U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · 13 hours ago
Clinical Lab Scientist Specialist
Bronx, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$129K/yr - $167K/yr
5+ years expThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Clinical Lab Scientist Specialist to provide expert advice and consultation on complex and unique laboratory tests. The role involves developing policies, training staff, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements in the pathology and laboratory medical service.
National DefenseGovernmentPublic SafetyHealthcareMedicalNational Security
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
The CLS serves as a Technical Specialist CLS - providing expert authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult - complex - unique and/or emerging tests that require special knowledge
Examples include - but are not limited to - molecular pathology - gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy - and flow cytometry
The CLS advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing - including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context
The CLS advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses and analyzes emerging trends and technology to adopt appropriate methods and testing
The CLS develops policies - precedents - regulatory - licensing - and accrediting requirements to establish - monitor - and maintain the specialized testing
The CLS assumes responsibility for training and competency assessment of staff and students within the area assigned
The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner
Qualification
Required
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
Candidates must meet one of the certification options below: (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT OR (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT OR (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT
Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation
If an employee fails to maintain the required certification - management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff - must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation
To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency - and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination
Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
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 levels required for all GS-12 assignments
Knowledge and understanding of concepts - principles - methodology of medical laboratory technology - regulatory and accrediting agency requirements - medico-legal requirements - and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests
Knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired clinical laboratory scientists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of laboratory procedures
Knowledge of one or more advanced clinical laboratory functions
Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations
Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of a clinical laboratory
Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of the specific laboratory section
Preferred
Minimum of five years' experience in Blood Bank
Minimum of one year experience in Flow Cytometry
Benefits
Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Company
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Charles Worthington
Chief Technology Officer
Helga Rippen
Chief Interoperability and Veteran Access Officer
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