Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

## Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist (GS-12)

• *Overview:**

Lead and manage a clinical laboratory, overseeing day-to-day operations, staff, quality management, and compliance. This role requires significant independent judgment, strong technical skills, and proven supervisory responsibilities within a fast-paced laboratory environment.

• *Key Responsibilities:**
• **Supervisory Leadership (25%+ of time):**

* Plan, direct, and assess work for subordinate staff, including GS-11 level personnel. * Manage staff assignments, performance evaluations, selection, awards, and disciplinary actions. * Ensure staff orientation, training, competency, and continuing education requirements are met. * Develop policies, procedures, performance standards, and functional statements. * Provide professional and administrative oversight, including fiscal and resource management. * Maintain effective interdepartmental relations to support medical center goals.

• **Laboratory Operations & Quality:**

* Independently perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate complex laboratory procedures and results across various specialties (e.g., chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, immunohematology). * Conduct quality control, routine instrument maintenance, and troubleshooting. * Correlate abnormal lab data with pathological states, determining test result validity and need for additional tests. * Establish and monitor laboratory quality management programs, including pre-analytical processes and corrective actions. * May serve in specialized roles such as laboratory safety officer, analyzer specialist, or quality control specialist.

• **Compliance & Education:**

* Ensure strict compliance with federal/state laws, regulations, and laboratory accrediting agency requirements. * Provide education for laboratory healthcare professionals and the public.

• *Requirements:**
• **Citizenship:** United States Citizenship.
• **Language:** Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• **Education:** Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Science, or a closely related science (e.g., Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Immunology).
• **Certification:**

* Generalist certification (MLS by ASCP BOC or AMT, OR MT by ASCP BOR or AMT). * *Note: Categorical or Specialist certifications may be acceptable for specific higher-graded positions or relevant lab sections as per VA policy.*

• **Experience:** One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, directly related to this supervisory position.
• **Key Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs):**

* Extensive knowledge of Federal/state laws, regulations, and laboratory accrediting agency requirements. * Strong knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles. * Comprehensive understanding of clinical laboratory technology concepts, principles, and operations. * Proven leadership skills, including interpersonal relations and conflict resolution. * Demonstrated ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties (e.g., assignment, evaluations, selection, disciplinary actions). * Ability to plan, organize, set goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems. * Proficiency in fiscal management, resource forecasting, and budget administration.

• *Physical Demands:**

Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 lbs), light carrying, frequent standing/walking, manual dexterity, near vision, ability to hear, emotional stability in a fast-paced environment, and wearing personal protective equipment. Rotational shifts may impose additional physical demands.