Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist (RMLS)

Who we’re looking for

• The candidate must hold a current national certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification. Those credentialed prior to 01/01/2004 must upload their certification with no expiration. Those credentialed after 01/01/2004 must upload their current, active certification. Primary source verification of ASCP credentials may be completed online through the ASCP website. Follow the instructions provided on the online order form. Immediate on-screen results are available at the time the order is placed. The option to print verification results from the website is available at the time the order is placed and/or later, post login.
• Valid American Red Cross or American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required 90 days after hire and must be maintained throughout employment with the Department. If a candidate does not have BLS certification at the time of hire, MED will provide the course and certification after onboarding.
• The candidate must have a minimum of five (5) years of full-time post-certification laboratory experience within the last ten (10) years in the Chemistry, Hematology, and Immunology (i.e., Core Lab) areas of the laboratory, with experience and working knowledge in Parasitology, Microbiology, Blood Banking, and Urinalysis, with progressively responsible experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

What you’ll do

• The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) in the Department of State maintains and promotes the health and well-being of the United States' diplomatic community, who represent a wide range of United States government agencies abroad.
• The Department assigns Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists (RMLS) to selected posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards.
• The RMLS performs a wide variety of tests and procedures in Parasitology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Immunology, Hematology, Blood Banking, and Urinalysis.
• Duties also include training laboratory and non-laboratory medical professionals, assessing local laboratories, and addressing food safety, environmental, and water quality issues.
• All Medical Specialists working with the Bureau of Medical Services must provide services to all patients regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, disease, disability, or religion.
• RMLS duties may include, but are not limited to, the following at each regional post of responsibility: Clinical Inspects, evaluates, and reports on the quality of local medical laboratory services, blood banks, and hospital laboratories at home and regional posts, in possibly hazardous and/or difficult-to-access environments.
• Develops and coordinates laboratory education programs, including but not limited to bloodborne pathogen training, safe food handlers training, and continuing medical education programs.
• Trains and supervises a diverse group of laboratory professionals who have varying degrees of expertise, education, and command of the English language.
• Serves as clinical and technical supervisor of regional laboratory personnel.
• Conducts competency assessments at home and regional posts.
• Performs and reports on medical and environmental laboratory tests.
• Performs phlebotomy on patients of all ages.
• Ensures patient confidentiality and records integrity.
• Addresses food safety, environmental, and water quality issues.
• Maintains credentials and continuing medical education.
• Trains health unit staff on specimen collection, processing, testing, and reporting.
• Conducts food safety and other instructional classes.
• Performs sanitation inspections.
• Maintains a ServSafe® manager certification.
• Diplomatic Collaborates with local laboratory directors and managers.
• Administrative Manages the health unit laboratory operations.
• Oversees Quality Management programs.
• Updates and modifies Exposure Control Plans.
• Performs cost analyses to determine cost versus benefit when indicated to maintain fiscal responsibility.
• Mentors new RMLSs.
• Evaluates test methods.
• Submits statistical reports to the Bureau of Medical Services.
• Updates the medical capabilities database.
• Emergency Preparedness Prepares laboratory testing information for the emergency preparedness programs.
• Assists with the post's pandemic medical response plans.
• Regional Care Responsibilities Travels independently to regional constituent posts utilizing air carriers and transportation facilities that may be difficult to access.
• Arranges and maintains a regional travel schedule to respond to immediate and routine post needs.
• Maintains communication with regional health unit staff.
• Liaises with Regional Medical Managers.
• Maintains regular communication with the MED/LAB office in Washington, D.C.
• An RMLS is considered essential personnel and is expected to be available on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

About the position

The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist (RMLS) positions. Learn more about Foreign Service medical careers at https://careers.state.gov. There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.

Benefits

• There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.