Career Center

Summary

The incumbent serves as a Technical Specialist Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) for Blood Bank in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program with the responsibility for planning - developing - maintaining - and evaluating a comprehensive Quality Plan meeting the requirements set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - American Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Joint Commission (JC).

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:

• To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: a
• 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)
• b
• Education
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• c
• Certification
• (1) 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)
• (2) Exception for Non-Certified
• (a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency
• (b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)
• (c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL
• (d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• (3) Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - CLSs must actively work to meet requirements for certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupation
• At the time of appointment - the Human Resources (HR) Office staff - in collaboration with the supervisor - will provide the employee with the written requirements for certification - including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in separation from employment
• (4) Loss of Credential
• 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
• This may also result in separation from employment
• (5) If a CLS currently has - or ever had - their CLS certification revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status - HR Office staff must appoint them according to the provisions in VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section B - paragraph 16
• d
• 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
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements - employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted
• (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements
• e
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-12 - Assignments
• (1) Assignments
• For all GS-12 assignments above the FPL - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the CLS at least 25% of the time
• Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments
• (2) Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist) - GS-12
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) 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
• (B) 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
• (C) Knowledge of one or more advanced clinical laboratory functions
• (D) 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
• (E) Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of a clinical laboratory
• (F) Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of the specific laboratory section
• References: VA Qualification Standards: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged standing - bending over microscopes - reaching for supplies or materials - and lifting moderately heavy items such as centrifuges and record boxes (or occasionally lifting heavier items such as reagent packs)
• The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as dexterity (to perform intricate collection or analysis procedures) and color vision.

Duties

• The incumbent serves as a Technical Specialist Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) for Blood Bank in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program with the responsibility for planning - developing - maintaining - and evaluating a comprehensive Quality Plan meeting the requirements set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - American Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Joint Commission (JC)
• Duties: The Blood Bank Technical Specialist CLS plans - develops and oversees all educational programs for Transfusion Medicine residents - new staff - and recertification of current staff
• The incumbent acts as a liaison for training of nursing staff regarding new or changed requirements for Transfusion Medicine
• Reviews all the Blood Bank Section results (including results from off-hour and weekend shift(s) for correctness as required by CAP - Clinical Improvement Act of 1988 (CLIA) - AABB - FDA - and JC
• Directs blood bank CLS staff in the correction of errors and notifies attending providers as appropriate
• Assists the Supervisory CLS and Blood Bank Director in the planning - development and execution of the Quality Plan set forth by regulatory requirements from the FDA - AABB - CAP and JC
• Responsible for accomplishing administrative and communication tasks consistent with the Quality Plan
• Manages receipt of directives - regulations - inspection reports - and other relevant communication from the FDA and other regulatory agencies for the Blood Bank
• Assures distribution of the above reports to the appropriate supervisory personnel
• Devises new and utilizes existing procedures to monitor the quality of blood bank operations
• Assists in the development - maintenance - and evaluation of internal and external quality control programs
• Writes and updates new procedures and standard operating procedures (SOP) to meet all accrediting agency requirements
• The incumbent plans - develops - coordinates - and evaluates training activities for residents - new employees and current staff
• Incumbent serves as a member of the Medical Center Blood Utilization Review Committee
• As a committee member - the incumbent is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of transfusions for patient care - adverse reactions to the transfusions - transfusion statistics and other pertinent information to safeguard appropriateness of transfusions and hemo-therapies within the Medical Center
• Incumbent provides technical guidance to Medical Technicians and CLS staff when quality control or instrument problems occur
• solves complex antibody problems and evaluates and resolves problems related to Transfusion Medicine by using established policies and procedures
• provides Blood Bank training and knowledge
• interprets orders and provides advice to providers concerning blood products and its use
• Designs daily Laboratory Management Index Program (LMIP) work sheets - oversees the computer recording of these worksheets by Medical Technicians and CLS staff - and verifies the quarterly LMIP report for the Section
• The incumbent authorizes procurement of the blood/blood components as identified in the blood bank contract
• Other duties as required
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:00am-3:30pm w/rotating weekends and holidays
• Functional Statement #: 93092-0 EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact 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)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)