Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

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The position is a qualified experienced Clinical Laboratory Scientist that serves as the Laboratory Information Manager (LIM) in a diversified clinical laboratory. The work is performed at the G.V (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC hospital in Jackson, MS. The LIM develops and recommends new policies and procedures regarding the installation and use of the laboratory information system (LIS) in conjunction with the overall hospital information system (HIS). The LIM provides consultation and training of personnel on computer functions, including ordering options, and responsible for the maintenance of computer security keys. The duties of the Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Information Manager) may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develops and recommends new policies and procedures regarding the installation and use of the laboratory information system (LIS) or the hospital information system (HIS).
• Implements and maintains coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing, and workload recording systems.
• Analyzes emerging trends, software, and technology and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals.
• Advises all organizational levels on various aspects of the functions and capabilities of the information system.
• Serves as a recognized expert to provide authoritative advice and consultation on the information system.
• Serves as the local expert for national software developers for alpha or beta testing of software packages.
• Facilitates training, installation, implementation, maintenance, and overall use of the LIS.
• Tests and verifies released patches for functionality before moving into the production account.
• Reports and resolves clinical, business operational, technical issues through approved channels.
• Oversees scanned reports for the service and scans reference laboratory reports to the patient's chart in the absence of the clerk.
• Carries out day-to-day operations related to laboratory computer use.
• Submits reports as requested.
• Participates in National and VISN conference calls and other training initiatives.
• Assists section supervisor with implementation, validation and staff training for Vista Blood Establishment Computer Software (VBEC) for blood bank and related software updates.
• Assists section supervisor with incorporation and oversight of International Society of Blood Transfusionists (ISBT) and International Council for Commonality in Blood Bank Automation (ICCBBA) requirements.
• Oversees compliance with regulatory agency requirements as related to information systems, and they perform audits as needed.
• Consults with and trains personnel on computer functions, including ordering options, and is responsible for the maintenance of computer security keys.
• Serves as a primary timekeeper for one or more Time and Leave Units for the service.
• Serves as an IPPS certifying agent for the service.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact rhonda.eady@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

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)

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 586-01341F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification.
  
  
  • (1) 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. (Accepting Hematology & Coagulation Categorical certification only)

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).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Information Manager), GS-12.

• Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11).

• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities (KSAs) in their resume:

(A) Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methodology of clinical laboratory technology in relation to laboratory information systems.

(B) Knowledge of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization.

(C) Knowledge of laboratory computer systems sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system.

(D) Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements for laboratory functions.

(E) Ability to adapt, implement and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, including the use of office automation software.

(F) Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.

Preferred Experience: A minimum of 1 year of Laboratory Information Manager (LIM) or LIM related experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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