Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Quality Manager/Back-up Contracting Officer Representative)

Position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per 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 review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Major Duties: Serves as a consultant, facilitator, trainer, and technical advisor to staff at all levels to ensure facility compliance with and design, implementation and maintains the PALMS Quality Management Program in alignment with clinical laboratory accreditation and regulatory standards that include, but are not limited to, Joint Commission (JC), College of American Pathologists (CAP), National Enforcement Office (NEO), Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), and the and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Ensures the laboratory maintains continuous readiness and supports the organization's performance improvement and patient safety programs. Develops, reviews, and maintains service-level policies, SOPs, and quality documentation while overseeing document control, change management and version governance for all PALMS quality documents. Leads regulatory readiness activities, including gap analyses, tracer activities, document reviews and corrective action planning, conducts risk assessments, FMEAs and root-cause analysis for adverse events, near misses and process failures. Maintains a laboratory performance improvement program working with laboratory staff at all levels ensuring monitoring of components and customer feedback. Monitors quality indicators, proficiency testing, Internal audits, and external assessments; analyzes trends and recommends corrective/preventive action. Co-Chairs Laboratory QA committee and prepares quarterly QA reports and annual assessment of QA program for clinical laboratory, Anatomic pathology QA and ancillary testing QA. Implements effective processes and system controls with corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to ensure the highest possible product quality, service quality, and patient safety. Attends Accreditation committee meetings and other meetings as required. Advises lab management on quality management concerns that could impact other services and assists with the necessary follow-up. Investigates patient safety events, JPSRs, develops action plans, and monitors effectiveness of interventions. Prepares Agenda for Quality Assurance Committee and finalizes minutes. Assists with Ancillary Blood and Laboratory Utilization Committee preparing agenda/reports and finalizing minutes as needed. Incumbent must possess and maintain a current unrestricted state driver's license. Occasional travel to Community Based Outpatient Clinics/Community Living Centers is required. COR Provides consultative services and documentation management to management at all levels of the organization as it applies to quality management of contracts for supplies and services in a clinical laboratory setting. Performs maintenance of a laboratory contract quality management program and ensures monitoring of components and customer feedback for all contracts. Identifies, defines, and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of the collected data and monitors fiscal systems and contract performance indicators. Interacts with management officials in PLMS, Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) and VISN 19 Contracting to ensure continuous readiness for regulatory agency inspection and uninterrupted essential laboratory services and supplies be maintained. Research clinical requirements from all laboratory disciplines and receive information from technical supervisors/specialists sufficient to initiate, maintain and monitor contract requirements in a manner as to provide safety and efficiency of laboratory operations. Participating in acquisition planning, requirements development, and performance work statements for laboratory services, equipment, and supplies. Monitoring contractor performance to ensure compliance with contract terms, specifications, and quality standards. Documenting contractor performance issues and communicating concerns to the Contracting Officer. Provides technical guidance for sections and writes statements of work, justification of sole source, and independent government estimates and conducts market research in conjunction with Technical Supervisors to maintain uninterrupted clinical laboratory supplies and services. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS-0644-12-554-613320 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact jillana.martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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/. 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 dentification 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 may 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. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore, please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License.