Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Quick Facts

• Role: Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist (GS-12)
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00am–3:30pm

Description

Lead specialty laboratory operations to ensure accurate and reliable patient testing. Perform routine, specialized, and complex laboratory testing, validate and report results, maintain instruments and quality control/assurance, and ensure documentation and compliance with regulatory and performance improvement standards. Provide technical guidance to healthcare providers and help develop and implement new laboratory methods and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine, specialized, and complex laboratory testing
• Analyze, interpret, validate, and report results accurately and timely
• Evaluate specimen acceptability and ensure proper collection, handling, processing, and preparation
• Operate, calibrate, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform preventive maintenance on lab instruments
• Identify testing problems and equipment malfunctions and take corrective action
• Perform and monitor quality control/quality assurance to ensure accurate results
• Conduct additional/confirmatory testing for abnormal or unexpected findings
• Recognize and promptly communicate critical results to providers
• Provide technical guidance on testing procedures, specimen requirements, and interpretation
• Assist with development, evaluation, and implementation of new lab methods/procedures/instrumentation
• Maintain accurate records for testing, quality control, maintenance, and corrective actions
• Review data to identify analytical/clerical errors and unusual results
• Correlate lab findings with patient information for accuracy and validity
• Maintain inventory of supplies and reagents; notify management of shortages/outdated materials
• Train and mentor new staff, students, and other personnel
• Coordinate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals
• Ensure compliance with accreditation, regulatory, performance improvement, safety, infection control, biosafety, OSHA, HIPAA, and emergency management requirements
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory environment

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college/university
• Generalist certification: MLS (ASCP-BOC) or MT (ASCP/AMT)
• English proficiency (written and spoken)
• Pass background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation
• Selected applicants: complete online onboarding and acceptable ID verification; complete required VA onboarding steps
• Pass pre-employment urinalysis drug screening (if selected)
• Selective Service registration required for eligible males
• Participate in required seasonal influenza vaccination program
• Able to meet physical demands (lift up to 20 lbs; stand/walk up to 4 hours; kneel/bend; visual and hearing requirements)
• GS-12 criteria: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrate clinical lab science knowledge and the ability to troubleshoot instrumentation, develop/modify procedures, coordinate daily workflow/assignments, and provide staff training and technical consultation

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases
• Paid time off: 37–50 days annual paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and paid federal holidays)
• Parental leave up to 12 weeks paid (after 12 months of employment)
• Childcare subsidy (after 60 days, if eligible)
• Federal retirement: pension (with 5 years vesting) and 401K with up to 5% employer contributions
• Federal insurance options (health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care)