Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist (RMLS)

As a Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist in the Bureau of Medical Services (MED), you’ll discover a career combination that enables you to develop your professional skills and engage your personal interests.

You will provide critical support to our U.S. Embassy health units by managing the accuracy, safety, and efficiency of all lab-related operations to ensure the best possible healthcare for our U.S. diplomats and their families abroad. You will perform a range of tests and procedures, from routine to highly specialized, in various fields including: Parasitology, Microbiology, Serology, Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Banking and Urinalysis. You may encounter challenges that will engage your unique potential and stretch your creativity, all while having rewarding experiences, exploring new places and different cultures.

In return for your service, you’ll have access to continued medical training and career development programs; health and medical coverage; federal retirement benefits; and generous paid leave. When serving overseas, you’ll receive paid housing or an appropriate housing allowance, and paid K-12 education for dependent children.

Conditions of Employment

  • Be a U.S. citizen and available for worldwide service.*
  • Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
  • Be able to meet the appropriate Foreign Service Minimum Medical Qualifications.
  • Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
  • Be at least 20 years old to apply; at least 21 years old to be appointed.
  • Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans accepted).***

Requirements

  •  Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain national security eligibility.
  • 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 areas of the laboratory, with experience and working knowledge in Parasitology, Microbiology, Blood Banking, and Urinalysis, with progressively responsible.
  • A bachelor’s or a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university in Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, OR biological science (Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry).

AND

  • Successful completion of a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) accredited Medical Laboratory Science program OR successful completion of a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training course.

AND

  • Hold a current national certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification OR a current national certification from American Medical Technologists (AMT) OR current state licensure. For AMT certifications, those credentialed prior to 01/01/2004 must upload proof of participation in Credential Maintenance Program with no expiration date. Those credentialed after 01/01/2004 must upload their current active certification.

Learn more about the duties and find all the requirements for the position and the application process by visiting an archived USAJOBS listing. This is for informational purposes only. Candidates must adhere to the requirements listed in the open vacancy announcement at the time of their application.  Sign up to receive a notification when the vacancy is open for application.

*EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.

U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee’s information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated.

**The Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov/.

***For more information about Veteran’s Preference and how it is applied in the selection process, please visit: http://careers.state.gov/faqs/