Summary

The Phoenix VA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) is looking for a Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist Evening & Night Shift for the Carl T Hayden VA Healthcare System. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 11 - 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred at regular intervals or as vacancies become available. This announcement can be taken down at any time.

Qualifications

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
• Education: Must possess a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical technology or a directly related science (e.g. - laboratory sciences such as chemistry - biochemistry - biology - microbiology - immunology - etc.)
• 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: (1) 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 - (2) 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 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
• Certification: 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 give 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)
• 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: GS-13 Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) which is directly related to the position to be filled
• This is required for all GS-13 assignments
• Assignments: For all supervisory assignments - the CLS must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision and perform major duties above those at the FPL that consist of significant scope - complexity - difficulty - and variety
• The CLS must supervise at least one staff member at the GS-12 grade level
• The supervisory CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning - directing - and assessing work of subordinate staff
• The supervisory CLS recommends appointments - awards - advancement - and disciplinary actions
• The CLS plans and assigns work based on priorities - requirements of assignments - and abilities of employees
• provides advice and counsel
• and evaluates work of subordinates
• The supervisor ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical processes - initiating corrective actions as needed as part of the overall laboratory quality management program
• The supervisory CLS plans and executes performance and quality improvement projects
• The supervisory CLS verifies orientation - training - and competency assessment of assigned staff and develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals
• The supervisory CLS ensures all staff and affiliate staff comply with accrediting and regulating bodies
• The supervisory CLS adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level
• This individual manages document control - develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statements and is responsible for technical and administrative management of an assigned area including budget execution
• The supervisory CLS interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel and exercises significant independent decision-making authority
• The supervisory CLS maintains effective interdisciplinary and interprofessional relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations - laboratory accrediting and regulatory requirements to develop new policies and guidelines - formulate plans - judge effectiveness of the operation
• (2) 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
• (3) Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution
• (4) 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
• (5) Ability to analyze organizational - technical and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient laboratory operation
• (6) Ability to manage fiscal matters - forecast resource and equipment needs - and administer the allocated budget
• (7) 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
• Preferred Experience: Previous supervisory experience preferred
• Current experience and verified working knowledge of Blood Bank required
• Current or previous generalist experience required
• 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-13
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Major Duties include but are not limited to: Full supervisory responsibility in a complexity index group 1 laboratory or in a complexity index group 2 laboratory that performs at least 1 million Standard Billable Tests annually (reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program)
• Supervises staff of non-supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate
• Monitors test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance
• assures corrective action in initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications
• Approves and certifies Annual Leave (AL) and Sick Leave (SL) for the Pay Period
• Assures orientation - training and competency assessment of staff has been performed and appropriately documented
• Works in conjunction with the section Technical Specialist/Lead Technologists and Pathologists to analyze emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing
• Recommends appointments
• plans - schedules and assigns work
• sets priorities
• evaluates work of subordinates
• evaluates performance
• provides advice and counsel
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 3:30 pm - 12:00 am (Occasional Weekends & Holidays) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized