Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Microbiology

Veterans Health Administration•Philadelphia, PA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. The incumbent will perform duties in the Philadelphia VAMC Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service which performs of 2.5 million tests, at a 1B complexity level hospital. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility of non-supervisory personnel, including GS-11 and GS-12s Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS), in their designated section/s of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The supervisory CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. The incumbent recommends appointment, plans, and assigns work, gives advice and counsel, and evaluates work of subordinates. Is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance. Assures corrective action is initiated. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of assigned staff. Develops and updates technical policy and procedure manuals. Ensures all staff and affiliate staff are following accrediting and regulating bodies. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level. This assignment requires specialized training and experience. Employees must have advanced knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. They have wide latitude for exercising independent judgment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT. NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer).
Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-13 assignments.
The CLS has full supervisory responsibility in a laboratory where at least three of the five following conditions are met outlined below in (A) - (E).
(A) Lab is a complexity level index group 1 or 2 based on the Hospital Complexity Level as designated in Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing (OPES) VHA Facility Complexity Model History.
(B) The laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program).
(C) The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate.
(D) Lack of on-site pathologist.
(E) Oversight of more than one laboratory specialty.
Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting, and regulatory requirements to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans, and judge effectiveness of the operation.
Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or the education and training of laboratory staff.
Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.
Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
Ability to analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient laboratory operation.
Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
Ability to set short and/or long-term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.
For all supervisory assignments, the CLS must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision and perform major duties above those at the FPL that consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety.
The CLS must supervise at least one staff member at the GS-12 grade level.
The supervisory CLS maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

Nice To Haves

At least 5 years experience in Microbiology as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist.

Responsibilities

Plans and schedules on-going work for their section/s.
Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level.
Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies.
Day-to-day supervision of highly complex test performance.
Is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance.
Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications.
Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff.
Plans and executes performance and quality improvement projects.
Collaborates with other sections/services as necessary for quality improvement projects and quality management processes.
Performs the full range of supervisory duties. Recommends appointment, plans, and assigns work, gives advice and counsel, and evaluates work of subordinates.
Verifies orientation, training, and competency assessment of assigned staff.
Develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals.
Ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies.
Manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements and is responsible for technical and administrative management of an assigned area including budget execution.
Interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority.
Other duties as assigned.