Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary

Serves as the Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the assigned section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) for Transfusion Services (Blood Bank) in this level 1B, 3.5 million billable test per year, university-affiliated Medical Center. Responsible for the performance of the full range of transfusion services, technical, administrative, and supervisory duties required for the assigned section at the VA Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri.

Duties

Responsible for the performance of the full range of technical, administrative, and supervisory duties required for the assigned section at the VA Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri. Utilizes developmental, evaluative, technical, and managerial skills for day-to-day operations and when making long term decisions or recommendations that affect the section. Advises the Medical Director and the Laboratory Manager of any testing problems to ensure compliance with accrediting and regulatory agency requirements. Duties of the Supervisory Laboratory Scientist include but are not limited to: Supervises laboratory personnel, performing the full range of first-line supervisory responsibilities, including work assignments, performance evaluations, hiring recommendations, leave approval, and employee development. Plans, schedules, and prioritizes laboratory operations while adjusting staffing and workflow to meet service demands. Oversees orientation, training, competency assessments, and continuing education to ensure staff maintain required technical proficiency Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies. - Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff. - Inventories supplies and reagents and monitors expenditures in the section. Evaluates existing tests for cost-benefit and recommends sending out low-volume, high cost or labor-intensive testing as indicated. Justifies new instrumentation and methodologies. - Attends regularly scheduled meetings, such as Supervisors, Senior Staff and Supervisors, and Laboratory Safety Committee. Serves as acting Laboratory Manager when assigned. Assures staff compliance with accreditation agency, medical center and Service requirements for safety, chemical hygiene, emergency preparedness and occupational exposure. Plays a central role in establishing and developing the testing and examination procedures carried out in the laboratory. Solves testing problems, develops new solutions to testing problems, performs newer/more complex tests and examinations. Recognizes and defines testing problems and evaluates methods for solution. Evaluates guides or implements possible alternative approaches to standard methods. Determines procedures for tests to be performed in the unit. Develops and implements the use of protocols for performance of test and evaluation of results. Monitors conformity to protocols. Develops procedures and established parameters for correlation of test results and preset troubleshooting protocols. Assesses data needed, designs data collection procedures, identifies parameters and determines acceptable range for each parameter. Identifies control samples appropriate to monitor assays/procedures; establishes protocols for evaluating control sample value and defines action to be taken when control sample is outside limits. - Performs semiannual correlation studies on instrumentation, when applicable. - Establishes reference ranges. Validates procedures and equipment. - Ensures that data transmission and calculation validation checks are performed within stated timeframes. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00 pm EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Tracy Lowe @ tracy.lowe@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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) Telework: Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications and evaluation

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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.

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 08/24/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13029106. 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.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Professional Certification Resume Transcript Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter Disability Letter (Schedule A) Other (1) Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) Transcript

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.