Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Twin Ports - ATC-POC

Veterans Health Administration • Minneapolis, MN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) directs and assesses the work of subordinate staff and oversees the Twin Ports Outpatient Laboratory and Ancillary Testing and Point-of-Care (POC) programs. The role provides technical expertise for waived, moderate- and high-complexity testing, and exercises the full range of supervisory responsibilities, including assigning and evaluating work, advising staff, and recommending appointments, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions.

The position develops and recommends policies and procedures for ancillary and POC testing, evaluates correlation and calibration verification across instruments and methodologies, and monitors continuous-improvement initiatives. It maintains the laboratory’s electronic document-control system and ensures policies and procedures remain current and meet regulatory and accreditation requirements. The CLS also provides consultation on difficult, complex, or unusual laboratory problems.

The supervisor oversees quality management, quality control, proficiency testing, corrective actions, equipment preventive maintenance, and required records. The role monitors laboratory operations and service quality, coordinates staffing and scheduling, evaluates new methods and instruments, updates procedure manuals, and assists with financial and supply-resource management. It also ensures compliance with applicable laws, VA directives, and Joint Commission, College of American Pathologists, and CLIA requirements.

The position identifies staff training needs, ensures orientation and competency assessment, conducts laboratory-related in-services, and mentors employees, residents, and students. The schedule is Monday through Friday during daytime hours, with no weekends or holidays. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position. The role requires travel for outreach events within the Minneapolis Health Care System catchment area and the ability to operate a government vehicle. The incumbent must maintain a valid driver’s license, car insurance, and First Aid certification, and transport Veterans as needed.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The announcement also describes eligibility for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), which is an incentive rather than a benefit and has limited funding. The role requires a bachelor’s degree or higher and qualifying clinical laboratory certification. Grade GS-13 requires one year of directly related, creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, along with specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• One of the specified certifications: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or an applicable categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT.
• For GS-13, one year of directly related, creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, fully meeting the relevant KSAs.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accreditation, and regulatory requirements sufficient to develop policies and guidelines, formulate plans, and assess operational effectiveness.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality-management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor quality programs and/or laboratory staff education and training.
• Interpersonal relations and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, including assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, selecting staff, and recommending awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Ability to analyze organizational, technical, and administrative problems and implement solutions that improve laboratory efficiency.
• Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer an allocated budget.
• Ability to set short- and/or long-term section goals and conduct studies addressing technical and administrative issues, including staffing shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to operate a government vehicle and travel for two continuous hours in a vehicle; maintain a valid driver's license, car insurance, and First Aid certification, and transport Veterans as needed.
• Pass the required pre-employment physical examination and comply with applicable pre-employment screening, security, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Submit a transcript with the application; foreign education must meet the stated equivalency documentation requirements.
• Meet the requirement to serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated written certification for continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and assess the work of subordinate staff; assign work, provide advice and counsel, evaluate performance, and recommend appointments, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures for ancillary and point-of-care testing, including procurement and service requirements.
• Review and evaluate correlation and calibration verification across instrumentation and methodologies.
• Create, apply, and monitor continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Maintain the laboratory electronic document-control system and ensure policies and procedures are current and meet regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Serve as the technical expert for the Twin Ports Ancillary Testing and Point-of-Care programs and consult on complex laboratory problems.
• Initiate corrective action when test performance deviates from established specifications; implement and monitor quality-management and quality-control activities.
• Coordinate proficiency testing and maintain required quality-control, maintenance, incident, proficiency-testing, and corrective-action records.
• Establish preventive-maintenance programs for equipment and ensure staff comply with safety rules and regulations.
• Supervise day-to-day operations of the Twin Ports Outpatient Laboratory and Ancillary Testing Program, including waived, moderate-, and high-complexity testing.
• Plan and schedule work, adjust staffing or work procedures, collaborate on laboratory scheduling, and approve, deny, or modify employee leave.
• Monitor physician ordering practices, specimen collection and labeling errors, near-miss events, and the service’s ability to meet provider and patient needs.
• Evaluate and implement new methodologies and instrumentation; write and update procedure manuals; keep abreast of technology and justify equipment expenditures that may reduce operating costs.
• Recommend and implement improvements to laboratory efficiency and functioning; develop policies and guidelines as needed.
• Assist with managing personnel and financial resources and maintaining control-point activity from supply-request initiation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, policies, regulatory and licensing requirements, accreditation requirements, and VHA directives, including Joint Commission, CAP, and CLIA requirements.
• Identify training needs; ensure staff orientation, training, and competency assessment; conduct in-services and training sessions; mentor employees, residents, and students.
• Travel for outreach events within the Minneapolis Health Care System catchment area, operate a government vehicle, and transport Veterans as needed.

Benefits

• Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval; potential award up to $200,000, with the amount and eligibility period determined by the program office.
• The announcement states the occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), subject to limited funding, eligibility, and a service agreement; lifetime awards may total up to $100,000.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and are available to eligible employees and their families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager