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Summary The Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) develops and recommends new policies and procedures regarding installation and use of the Laboratory Information System (LIS) in conjunction with the overall Hospital Information System (HIS). This individual provides authoritative advice and consultation to all organizational levels on functions and capabilities of the LIS within the Atlanta VA Healthcare System. Responsibilities Major Duties Include but are not limited to: Ensure interfaces with instrumentation and key printers are maintained. Implement new patches or changes in instrumentation in a timely manner and test thoroughly to detect problems in ordering, accessioning, or resulting lab tests. Detect, when possible, promptly address, and resolve disruptions in the laboratory service stemming from the software package, instrument interfaces and middleware. Serve as the principal contact for all laboratory interactions with hospital information technology (IT) department and Clinical Application Coordinator (CAC) Monitor, and where possible, improve CPRS and VistA interfaces used by providers to order and look up lab results. The latter typically involved working closely with clinical staff, Information Technology (IT) Department, and Clinical Application Coordinator (CAC) Generate reports required for workload monitoring, quality, billing, and turnaround time. Assist laboratory staff with lab computer hardware and software issues and coordination. Provide technical, analytical, and automated data processing (ADP) support to the laboratory. Mine clinical data for identifying patient cohorts at risk to alert the clinicians. Serve as a backup for the Bar Code Expansion (BCE) Coordinator. Take ownership of any assigned projects or contracts by completing them in a timely manner. Be available to coordinate from home or if necessary, come in during off hours and weekends to coordinate restoration of disrupted IT functions when it is essential to maintain service. Communicate with national groups working on VA lab information systems to keep abreast of improvements and problems. Maintain and update as needed policies and procedures related to the laboratory information system. Participates in laboratory information management and makes recommendations for policy design. Evaluates current information management procedures and practices to determine how effectively current goals are being met and how services could be improved through changes in automation. Performs laboratory work related to the lower levels of this series as needed. Perform and serve COR roles. The CLS works assigned department bench duties including off-shifts, weekends, and holiday in the clinical laboratory when assigned and as the need arises. Attend lab administrative meetings. Performs as a testing medical technologist and related other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 07:30 to 4:00 p.m.(subject to change based on agency needs) Telework: 1-2 Days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 59144F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP 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. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer). 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). Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. ( 5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements Grade Determinations: Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Information Manager), GS-12. 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 concepts, principles, and methodology of clinical laboratory technology in relation to laboratory information systems. (B) Knowledge of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization. (C) Knowledge of laboratory computer systems sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system. (D) Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements for laboratory functions. (E) Ability to adapt, implement and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, including the use of office automation software. (F) Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments Preferred Experience: A Clinical Laboratory Scientist with information systems degree, certification, and at least one year working with VA or related Laboratory Information System(s), Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recuring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, bending over microscope, reaching for supplies or material, and lifting moderately heavy items such as centrifuges and record boxed (or occasionally lifting heavier items such as reagent packs). The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as dexterity (to perform intricate collection or analysis procedures) and color vision. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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.