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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · 6 hours ago

Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Fayetteville, NC

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$96K/yr - $125K/yr

1+ years exp

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. This role involves overseeing testing responsibilities, managing laboratory functions, and providing professional guidance to staff while ensuring quality patient care.

GovernmentMedicalNational SecurityPublic Safety

Comp. & Benefits

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) carries out all of the testing responsibilities of the full performance level but has higher levels of professional responsibilities, expertise, and authority for a specific department (i.e Core Lab, Microbiology, or Blood Bank) and will rotate with other CLS's within the department

Has professional oversight responsibilities and responsibility for specific large scale automated analytical instrument systems

A specific area of laboratory functions, supply functions, quality control review, new method development, and employee or student training

And provide professional and technical advice to other technicians and CLS's on all shifts

The duties and responsibilities of the Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist includes but are not limited to the following: Performs all of the duties outlined in this functional statement in the Hematology and Chemistry department at the Medical Center and Health Care Centers

Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable

Prepares specimen for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained

Selects, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols

Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction

Locates and implements corrections

Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and documents/maintains proper records for quality control reports

Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts and maintains instruments

Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring

Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs

Documents and maintain all quality control, maintenance, and corrective action logs

Performs instrument to instrument correlations, new reagents and control validations and all other technical procedures required to maintain laboratory compliance

Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures

Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications) to verify results

Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results

Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly

Tracks down "missing" tubes, samples and follows protocol for reordering tests with appropriate documentation

Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system

Successfully performs CAP surveys, linearity studies and other intra-laboratory proficiency activities to maintain competency which is rotated through all technical staff performing the test

Reviews proficiency testing results prior to submitting to CAP

When equipment, control and/or calibrator problems present themselves, is able to troubleshoot and work with the manufacturer's hotline technicians to correct repairable problems

Documents corrective action in "corrective action logs"

Performs and documents daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance on analyzers

Participates in quality and performance improvement activities by collecting and reporting data as requested by the supervisor or performance improvement coordinator

Serves as a primary operator and assumes all the responsibilities and primary operator duties assigned by the supervisor

Reviews all new procedures, initially and annually thereafter, documenting knowledge of and that they follow the procedure

Adapts to new instrumentation and new procedures

Plans and carries out the procedures necessary to complete the work assignment and handles problems and corrects errors in accordance with established protocols and acceptable clinical laboratory practices

Performs other directly related duties as assigned

Qualification

Medical laboratory scienceGeneralist certification (MLS/MT)Laboratory instrumentation maintenanceProcedure developmentStaff developmentTrainingTechnical guidanceQuality control proceduresData evaluation

Required

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy

Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science - medical technology - clinical laboratory science - or in a related science (for example - chemistry - biochemistry - biology - microbiology - immunology - etc.)

Certification - Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT - Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT - Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT

Experience: At least 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)

Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice

Skill to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair laboratory instrumentation

Ability to develop procedures for new tests - and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations

Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section

Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training

Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians - nurses - and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing - specimen requirements and results

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing - sitting - transporting samples between work areas - stretching - reaching - bending and lifting of reagents/supplies for instruments

Moderate risks of discomfort associated with working in a clinical laboratory with regular and recurrent possible exposure to hazards such as infectious - chemical and/or environmental agents

Safety guidelines on safe equipment operation must be adhered to

There is possibility of constant stress and mental pressure to complete all testing in an accurate and timely manner for quality patient care