The Laboratory Manager occupies a management staff position in Pathology and Laboratory Service and participates with the Chief of Pathology & Laboratory in planning policies, adopting procedures, and resolving problems which concern the entire laboratory. 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 and/or Experience Combination (Transcripts required) (1) 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 (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.). AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post- baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four- year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. OR (2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP- BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. OR (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree. (2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below (copy of certification required): (1) Candidates must possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Grade Determinations. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-13 Laboratory Manager Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments. Laboratory Manager. The incumbent shares with the chief of laboratory service/medical director full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations 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). The incumbent supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate. Provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine, including research, agency policies, new techniques and procedures. Develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs. Consults with or serves as a consultant for local, network and national programs and/or officials. Manages regulatory affairs and compliance. Develops and manages program budget and resource utilization, inventory, acquisition and contracting processes. Assists and participates in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical fields of study. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Advanced knowledge of concepts, principles and methodologies of a major clinical laboratory program and operations in order to assess program effectiveness and provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management. b. Ability to work collaboratively with other disciplines, upper management, VISN level staff and/or VHA Central Office. c. Ability to plan and execute short- and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/strategic planning. d. Skill in administrative management (e.g., budgeting, contracting, procurement and property management) in accordance with VHA regulations. e. Ability to provide advisory, planning and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors and supervisors on specific functions, programs or problems that are particularly difficult, widespread or persistent. f. Ability to solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements, regulatory or program requirements (e.g., cost effectiveness). g. Knowledge of, and ability to, provide the full range of supervisory duties which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. 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. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf The Laboratory Manager makes decisions on work problems presented by M.D., supervisors, technical and clerical staff. Incumbent collaborates with head of other Services or units to negotiate, decide on and/or coordinate work-related changes affecting the laboratory. As laboratory manager, the incumbent advises the Medical Director and Health Care System management officials on the problems of the Service and their impact upon patient care and the mission of the medical center. The incumbent is responsible for setting up and oversight of laboratory new programs and operations outside of Pathology & Laboratory. Functions may include by are not limited to: Shares with the other Laboratory Manager the responsibilities of carrying out the following personnel duties: recruitment of medical technologists, medical technicians, phlebotomists, administrative and clerical staff by direct correspondence and through Human Resources Services (HRS): interview and evaluate relative to training and experiences of candidates; recommendation to staff and HRS for employment and appropriate grade; assignment to working areas in the laboratory; preparation of the job description; review and approval of performance ratings; recommendation of promotions, demotions, or dismissals in consultation with the Service Chief; resolution of group complaints and serious employee complaints not resolves at a lower level; review of serious disciplinary cases and problems; preparations of disciplinary measures. The position requires a mastery of medical technology principles, concepts, and methods to apply new scientific/technological developments and theories to major problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods and/or take actions or make recommendations that have significant impact on existing agency/national policies and programs. Assures adequate education and training opportunities for laboratory staff in order to maintain technical skills and competency and for advanced or additional skills when required to sustain the continuity of laboratory operations. Manage a laboratory which performs technical, administrative, and professional work directly affecting the mission of the medical center to provide timely, high qualify patient care at a complex level. Recruitment of service staff. Assure adequate laboratory coverage and makes reassignments of available personnel where indicated. Directs and perform all administrative functions that include human resource management, budget and finance management, and program analysis. Implement policies that will promote the most efficient and accurate operation of laboratory services to best serve patient care. Participate in long range planning for changes in the service. Attend conferences and meetings at which policies, procedures, techniques, research, and investigation projects are explored and general overall administration is discussed. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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: Available, Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 80313F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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