Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Clinical Laborory Scientist Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administrion Veterans Health Administrion Summary This position is eligible for the Educion Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP applicion within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Educion Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP applicion. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Overview Accepting applicions Open & closing des 05/14/2025 to 05/30/2025 Salary $60,497 - $115,526 per year The salary range for this position is $60,497 to $115,526 per year, starting GS-7 Step 1 and going up to GS-11 Step 10. Pay scale & grade GS 7 - 11 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Leeds, MA 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential 11 Job family (Series) Supervisory stus No Security clearance Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk Trust determinion process Financial disclosure Bargaining unit stus Announcement number CBTD-12733027-25-SG Control number 836930000 This job is open to The public U.S. Citizens, Nionals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Clarificion from the agency This position is open to all US Citizens.

Note: Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. Videos Duties This Clinical Laborory Scientist is in the Phology and Laborory Service the VA Medical Center, Leeds, MA campus. This position is a full-time 40 hours per week. GS-0644-7/9/11 Clinical Laborory Scientist Duties include but are not limited to the following description: ASSIGNMENT : The GS-11 is considered FPL for a CLS. A CLS this level independently carries out the day-to-day operions in the laborory. Develops, performs, evalues, interprets, correles, and valides the accuracy of laborory procedures and results in line with current laborory regulory requirements. The work performed may be in a variety of laborory specialties such as chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hemology, and immunohemology. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automed methods. In addition to routine testing, the CLS conducts quality control and routine maintenance of instrumention and troubleshooting. The CLS correles abnormal lab da with phological stes, determines the validity of test results, and the need for additional tests. Specific targeted laborory responsibilities or projects may include laborory safety officer, analyzer specialist, primary operor on new test systems, quality control specialist, supply control, and/or coordinor for the laborory competency assessment or proficiency/survey program. This assignment may include limited duties in areas such as lab informion management and ancillary testing. These tasks require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision. The CLS assesses a situion, considers the options, and formules an approprie course of action. This assignment includes monitoring quality control systems and measures, collaboring in the diagnosis and trement of pients, and providing educion for laborory health care professionals and the public in a professional, courteous, and effective manner. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:30pm (roting weekend on-call) Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule : May be authorized supervisor's discretion. Telework/Virtual/Remote Work : Not Authorized Functional Stement # : PDF08015, PDF08016, and PDF08017 Relocion/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Stion (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not required. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinor for questions/assistance. Notificions : This position is an NAGE Bargaining Unit Position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Selectee required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentively selected for VA employment in a testing designed position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registrion is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probionary period. Subject to background/security investigion. Selected applicants required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identificion required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or ste-issued dentificion cards th are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identificion for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examinion. Participion in the seasonal influenza vaccinion program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualificions Applicants pending the completion of educional or certificion/licensure requirements may be referred and tentively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements : Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United Stes (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. 7407(a). English Language Proficiency: Candides must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f). Certificion: Candides must meet one of the certificion options below. Generalist certificion as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. Generalist certificion as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. Cegorical certificion or Specialist certificion by ASCP or AMT. NOTE: Cegorical and specialist certificions are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unreled to the cegorical or specialist certificion held. Cegorical or specialist certificions are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinor, Educion Coordinor, Laborory Informion Manager, Quality Manager, Laborory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, Nional Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laborory Director, or Nional Quality and Compliance Officer). Exception for Non-Certified: (a)Applicants who do not currently hold valid certificion may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certificion if they meet one of 4 the routes identified in Appendix A th makes them eligible to take the MLS certificion exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certificion exam through AMT Certificion 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 or above the FPL. (d)Non-certified individuals may only be appointed the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certificion is obtained. (e)Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. Educion: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Foreign Gradues: To be creditable, educion completed outside the U.S. must be deemed least equivalent to th gained in a conventional U.S. program by a prive organizion specializing in the interpretion of foreign educional credentials. Gradues of foreign baccalauree degree programs meet the educional requirements if they meet either of the following: Foreign transcripts are evalued by an acceptable evaluion agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laborory science degree program. OR The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT sting the individual is eligible to take the certificion examinion. NOTE: Possession of a certificion identified in 4c above automically determines the foreign educion as creditable and no further documention or proof of equivalency is needed. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfhering Provision as described in the VA Qualificion Standard for this occupion (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupion and meet the criteria). Grade Determinions : Clinical Laborory Scientist GS-0644-7Experience . None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Employee this level serves in a CLS entry-level position. It is expected th they receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require daily direct supervision. Clinical Laborory Scientist GS-0644-9 Experience or Educion: Candides this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07). OR Educion: Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level gradue educion in medical technology or a directly reled science. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or educion above, the candide must demonstre the following KSAs: Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laborory testing. Knowledge of laborory quality control and quality assurance principles. Knowledge of laborory equipment and routine maintenance. Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Ability to read and interpret written instructions. Ability to accurely perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing. Assignment: An individual this grade level serves as a developmental CLS. The CLS is responsible for evaluing, performing, interpreting, and validing the accuracy and validity of test results. The CLS demonstres a clear progression of clinical knowledge and experience by performing testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens using manual or automed methods. This includes routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumention, and troubleshooting th applies innovive procedures and problem solving. Deviions from regular procedures, unanticiped problems, and unfamiliar situions are referred to more experienced staff for a decision or assistance. Assignments this level will include developmental duties of increasing scope as compared to the entry level. It is expected th a CLS this grade performs more complex work while receiving less frequent supervision than the entry level. Clinical Laborory Scientist GS-0644-11Experience or Educion Candides this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR Educion: Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level gradue educion or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly reled science. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or educion above, the candide must demonstre the following KSAs: Knowledge of professional clinical laborory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories th support sound, independent work. Knowledge of laborory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement. Skill in informics, laborory da flow, and laborory processes. Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumention. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laborory results. Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions. Ability to communice, consult, and interact with other members of the health care team, external relions, customer service, and pient educion. Preferred Experience: Generalist in Hemology, Chemistry, Coagulion, and Urinalysis. Reference: For more informion on this qualificion standard, please .The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupional Health Service for requirements. Educion IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your applicion if you are basing all or part of your qualificions on educion. Note: Only educion or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your educion here: . If you are using foreign educion to meet qualificion requirements, you must send a Certifice of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for th educion. For further informion, : . Additional informion Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacion) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave a re (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 re which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment de and is not guaranteed. During the applicion 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 applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion 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 stus. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-reled 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 alterne 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 tentive job offer. For more informion about the Act and the complaint process, . Benefits 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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window . 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 informion on the specific benefits offered. How You Will Be Evalued You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your applicion, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documention verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect considerion for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience th transles directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify informion provided by a candide (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candide's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those th have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please the site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members. Benefits 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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window . 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 informion on the specific benefits offered. Required Documents As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes: Professional Certificion Resume Transcript The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Stement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Performance Appraisal Professional Certificion Resume Separion Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows des and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documention reled to your active duty service which reflects the des of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and des of impending separion. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Applicion for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as sted on the form. Documention is required to award preference. For more informion on Veterans' Preference, please . Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements: Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from . Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring. How to Apply All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/30/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click . To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de. Agency contact informion Sharika Graves Address VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US Next steps Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made. You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the . NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities. Fair and Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Required Documents To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes: Professional Certificion Resume Transcript The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Stement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Performance Appraisal Professional Certificion Resume Separion Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows des and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documention reled to your active duty service which reflects the des of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and des of impending separion. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Applicion for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as sted on the form. Documention is required to award preference. For more informion on Veterans' Preference, please . Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements: Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from . Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring. How to Apply All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/30/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click . To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de. Agency contact informion Sharika Graves Address VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US Next steps Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made. You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the . NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities. Fair & Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Overview Accepting applicions Open & closing des 05/14/2025 to 05/30/2025 Salary $60,497 - $115,526 per year The salary range for this position is $60,497 to $115,526 per year, starting GS-7 Step 1 and going up to GS-11 Step 10. Pay scale & grade GS 7 - 11 Locion 1 vacancy in the following locion: Leeds, MA 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential 11 Job family (Series) Supervisory stus No Security clearance Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk Trust determinion process Financial disclosure Bargaining unit stus Announcement number CBTD-12733027-25-SG Control number 836930000 .,

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