Summary
This position is located at the Kayenta Service Unit, Division of Clinical Services, Laboratory Department, Kayenta, AZ. This position serves as section Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) Department Head and the technical supervisor (as described by CLIA) of the Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, and Urinalysis sections of the Core Laboratory. The incumbent reports to Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
Duties
Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or result in you losing consideration for the job. The incumbent:
- Performs a wide range clinical laboratory tests/exams including difficult and infrequent tests requiring special knowledge, for use in clinical diagnosis, patient screening and other authorized purposes. Communicates imperative information to subordinates, such as troubleshooting, and govems quality services.
- Assure optimal performance of all instrument and determines procedures for microbiology tests to be performed. lnforms the Supervisor of deficiencies in manual and automated test performance and identifies hardware problems to the appropriate Biomedical or facility maintenance team. Develops and implements the use of protocols for performance of tests, evaluation of results and monitors conformity to accepted practices.
- Demonstrates a superior level of technical proficiency and problem-solving ability in medical laboratory science principles, concepts and methodology sufficient to carry out a variety of diagnostic tests and verify results. This knowledge must be sufficient to develop and establish procedures for testing in the Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, and Urinalysis sections of the Core Lab, and to provide corrective actions on testing problems and to confirm diagnosis.
- The incumbent serves as the subject matter expert and Consulting Microbiologist for advising physicians, Laboratory, and other related health professionals, on the theories and principles of Clinical Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, and Urinalysis testing principles and provides guidance to Technologists, Technicians, and other support personnel.
- Ensures the scheduling, performance, and documentation of the preventative maintenance for laboratory equipment (including pipette calibrations, tachometer calibrations on centrifuges, annual timers & thermometer checks, and annual PMs on analyzers).
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Must pass pre-employment examination.
Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
A one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required.
Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities.
COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty.
The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.
Position is subject to standby, callback, overtime, moderate risks with regular and recurring exposure to biohazards and chemical exposure.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit .
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Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.
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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
In order to qualify for this position, you must meet one of the Basic Requirements for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, GS-0644 position listed below.
Education:
A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.
OR
A full 4-year course of study that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor's certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor's in medical technology.
OR
A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis/Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university.
Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification/licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable.
In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:
GS-11 Specialized Experience: Plans and leads a diagnostic testing program providing Bacteriology, Molecular, and Urinalysis services in a clinical laboratory setting: providing diagnostic testing for bacterial ID and sensitivity, Molecular Diagnostic testing, and other urgent care testing; oversees high- complexity testing in all phases of testing in these sections (e.g., pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic stages); manages automated testing of bacterial ID and Sensitivity assays, Blood culture monitoring, infectious disease testing, and urinalysis and other manual benchtop methods
OR
Completed at least 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or Equivalent doctoral degree. (Graduate education must have been in (1) the general field of medical technology; (2) one of the disciplines or specialized areas of medical technology; or (3) a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
OR
Possess a combination of graduate education and specialized experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The total percentage equals at least 100 percent to qualify for this GS-11 grade level. (Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience).
Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If you meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position, your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within each of these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-preference eligibles.
Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your category rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions will be evaluated against the duties you provided in your resume, along with your submitted documentation to determine your ability to demonstrate the following.
- Quality Assurance
- Technical Competence
- Technology Awareness
The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: . CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
- Veterans, i.e. (VEOA, VRA, and 30% or more disabled) -
- Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) -
- Interagency Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) -
- Schedule A Appointments for the Disabled -
Click here to view vacancy questions: . All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 12/31/2024, to be considered.
Required Documents
- Resume: You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, annual salary, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer; supervisor name and telephone number.
Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:
- Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: . When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.
- Veterans Preference: If claiming Veteran's Preference provide a copy of your DD214 Form (Member 4 copy). To claim 10-Point Veterans Preference, submit a SF-15 Application () along with the appropriate supporting documentation. For additional information regarding Veterans Preference visit: .
- Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: .
- Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
- Licensure, Certifications: Applicants should list their license/certifications on their resume, along with the expiration date, if applicable. Certification of licensure/certification will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
- Superior Academic Achievement: If claiming eligibility for Superior Academic Achievement, candidates must provide copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) must be included at the time of initial application. If unable to obtain transcripts, candidates must provide sufficient evidence to validate courses completed and credit hours earned. Eligibility is based on one of the following:
- Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision and based on completed courses.
- Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a G.P.A. of: a.) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (''B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b.) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
- Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society - Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed here Association of College Honor Societies. Official transcripts may be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 12/31/2024
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
