Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist
What you'd do
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.
Major duties
The duties of the Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist includes but is not limited to: Directs the operation of the clinical laboratory at VA Northern Indiana Health Care System Fort Wayne Campus. Provides administrative support and staff assistance to the Laboratory Manager and/or Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service who reports to the Chief of Clinical Support Services. Develops position descriptions and performance standards, and conducts the annual performance ratings for all direct reports. Serves as the approving official of performance plans and/or annual performance appraisals for these staff members. Plans programs to be accomplished by laboratory staff, sets priorities and assigns work based on difficulty and requirements. Advises and instructs lead personnel and general lab staff on both work and administrative matters. Makes recommendations for selection, promotion, and reassignment of laboratory personnel at the Ft. Wayne campus. Counsels and resolves complaints from employees. Reviews cases of disciplinary actions. Participates in the resolution of Union and EEO complaints within Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. Identifies training needs of employees and recommends continuing education training modules; assures that all laboratory personnel completes the required hours of continuing education required by the VA Medical Center. Advises the Laboratory Manager and/or Chief on safety issues and ensures that all employees attend safety orientations. Ensures that all employees participate in fire, safety, and emergency preparedness drills as appropriate and provides personal protective equipment for employees; completes and submits all accident forms within the required time frames. Keeps abreast of new technology in instrumentation and justifies expenditures for purchase of major pieces of equipment which can reduce the overall operating costs; considers cost effectiveness, desirability and space in selection of major equipment. Assures that all laboratory personnel demonstrate understanding of policies and procedures for handling and reporting of workplace violence. Manages financial resources and serves as the approving authority for credit card purchases by designated personnel. Manages budget resources for equipment, supplies, personnel, and space; prepares funding and staffing requests to the appropriate committees. Analyzes budget expenditures and determines staffing needs and projections; monitors, controls and approves expenditures on all recurring and non-recurring items. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm 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 [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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: Authorized on an ad-hoc basis in accordance with VA policies. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:92472-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/24/2026 BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 1. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 2. Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. 3. Certification. Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. Foreign Education. 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: 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 The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination. NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in #3 above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed. GRADE DETERMINATION Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-13 (a) Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. The Clinical Laboratory Scientist has full supervisory responsibility in a laboratory where at least three of the five following conditions are met outlined below: 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. The laboratory performs at least one million standard billable tests annually (as reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program). The CLS supervises a staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate. Lack of on-site pathologist. Oversight of more than one laboratory specialty. (b) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 inefficient 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
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