Lead Clinical Lab Scientist

Lead Clinical Lab Scientist

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Buffalo, New York

Salary Range: $114089 - $148322 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Major Duties:

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Carries out all the testing responsibilities of the GS-0644-11 Clinical Laboratory Scientist but has higher levels of professional responsibilities and expertise. These assignments require specialized training and experience. The incumbent possesses advanced knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medicolegal requirements, and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests. Acts as the subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. Has a wide latitude for exercising independent judgment. The Lead CLS is responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty, including assignment of work responsibilities, workload management, and completion of assignments for staff at or above the FPL. Facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure tasks are completed and team priorities, goals, needs and achievements are coordinated with management. Acts as a liaison between the team members and the supervisor. Prepares reports, develops policy and procedure, and maintains records and administrative information. Develops procedures for new tests and modifies existing procedures or methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult testing situations. Prepares and presents information to supervisor. Research qualitative and quantitative methods in the appropriate laboratory specialty area. Performs statistical analysis on quality control and quality assurance monitors. Maintains all quality control records and statistical data per regulatory guidelines. Ensure the appropriate correlation among different instrumentation and methodologies. Is responsible for coordination of staff training in the methods and techniques of the appropriate laboratory specialty area. Identifies continuing education, training needs and performs and maintains staff competency assessment records to meet regulatory guidelines. Is the primary source of information for maintaining current laboratory instrumentation. Acts as the subject matter expert to diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction and troubleshoots deviations to maintain optimal operating conditions and accuracy of test results. Maintains all maintenance records for equipment in assigned section. Responsible for evaluation of new and evolving developments in laboratory instrumentation and automation. Serves on VISN evaluation team for proposed laboratory instrumentation in laboratory specialty area. Incumbent also serves as a Contract Officer's Representative (COR) responsible for contracting oversight of laboratory instrumentation. Tracks contract funding, payments and follows up on audit discrepancies; provides contact evaluations to Contract Officer as required. Ensures compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as CAP, JCAHO, AABB, and OSHA. Coordinates quality control and quality assurance activities with the Supervisor. Coordinates proficiency testing program for the appropriate laboratory specialty. Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety, biosecurity, and infection prevention in the workplace. Acts as liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty area. Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member. Provides excellent service as defined by the customer (healthcare providers, patients, and others). Gives direction and guidance using underlying principles of laboratory testing. Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service, and patient education. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm 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) 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 11821F

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Ability to communicate in spoken and written English with patients and other health care personnel with sufficient fluency to satisfactorily carry out assigned responsibilities, in accordance with Public Law 95-201. Education (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. 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 below automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed. Certification. Candidates must meet one of the following certification options below. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR 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. Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-12 (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. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A)Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. (B)Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation. (C)Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. (D)Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. (E)Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. (F)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. 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). Preferred Experience: Clinical microbiology Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/22/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12868121. To begin, click Apply Online to create 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 occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-01-22