Clinical Laboratory Scientist
The Clinical Laboratory Scientist performs and validates complex laboratory tests on biological specimens using manual and automated methods, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards. This role involves quality control, instrumentation maintenance, troubleshooting, and collaboration with healthcare teams to support patient diagnosis and treatment. The position requires progressive clinical knowledge and may include specialized responsibilities such as laboratory safety and education coordination within Confidential Client.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Healthcare & Nursing.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Responsibilities
Confidential Client is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to perform, evaluate, and validate clinical laboratory testing across a variety of laboratory specialties. The role may be staffed at levels equivalent to GS-07 through GS-11 depending on experience and education.
- Evaluate, perform, interpret, and validate the accuracy and validity of test results.
- Perform routine and complex testing on biological specimens using manual and automated methods.
- Carry out quality control, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting of laboratory instrumentation.
- Monitor and document quality assurance and performance improvement activities.
- Correlate abnormal laboratory data with pathological states and recommend additional testing when appropriate.
- Serve as primary operator on new test systems, analyzer specialist, or participate in targeted lab projects.
- Support laboratory information flow, data informatics, and limited lab information management tasks.
- Provide education and consult with other members of the healthcare team, external partners, and the public.
- Follow established policies and procedures and escalate unanticipated or unfamiliar situations to senior staff.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must meet the basic certification, education, and eligibility requirements below.
- United States citizenship is required (non-citizens only when permitted under policy).
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical technology or a directly related science.
- Certification — candidates must meet one of the certification options:
- Generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT, or
- Generalist MT certification from ASCP BOC or AMT, or
- Categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT (acceptable only for higher-graded, section-specific roles).
- Note: Categorical/specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS generalist positions unrelated to that specialty.
- Non-certified candidates may be eligible for temporary appointment if they meet specific eligibility routes to sit for certification exams; temporary appointments have limits and supervisory requirements.
Experience & Knowledge Expectations
The position may be filled at different pay/grade levels depending on qualifications:
- GS-07: Entry-level; meets basic requirements; receives daily direct supervision.
- GS-09: Developmental CLS — requires one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade or a master’s / two years of graduate education in a related field.
- Expected to perform a broader range of testing, QC, maintenance, and troubleshooting with less direct supervision.
- Required KSAs include policies/procedures for clinical testing, QC/QA principles, equipment maintenance, teamwork, and accurate test-phase execution.
- GS-11: Full performance level — requires one year of creditable experience at GS-09 or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education / Ph.D.
- Independently carries out day-to-day lab operations across specialties (chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, immunohematology).
- Exercises independent technical judgment, organizes priorities, and may lead targeted lab responsibilities (safety officer, QC specialist, competency coordinator, etc.).
- Required advanced KSAs include clinical laboratory science principles, QA/performance improvement, informatics, instrument maintenance and repair, and effective communication with clinical teams.
Compensation
- Pay range for this position: $72,272 - $139,054 per year (range may vary depending on selected grade/level and qualifying experience).
Employment Type & Location
- Employment type: Full-time.
- Location: Augusta, ME (on-site). Remote work is not indicated for this role.
Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
- This role requires work with biological specimens and routine laboratory environments. Candidates must meet applicable occupational health and physical requirements per relevant policies.
Why Join
- Work in a mission-driven healthcare environment supporting diagnostic and clinical decision-making.
- Opportunities for professional development across multiple laboratory specialties and career progression to higher-graded assignments.
- Participate in quality improvement, instrumentation implementation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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