Become a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Camp Lejeune: Join the Defense Health Agency Team
Clinical laboratory professionals represent the quiet backbone of modern medicine. In the military healthcare sector, their contribution is even more critical. Every diagnostic assay run, blood product manufactured, and quality assurance program completed directly affects combat readiness and the survival rates of service members.
If you are a dedicated laboratory professional seeking a career that blends high-level science with public service, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) has an active opening for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (GS-11) within the Camp Lejeune Transfusion Services division in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This Direct Hire Authority position provides an outstanding platform to expand your clinical skills, work with cutting-edge technology, and receive a robust compensation package.
About the Agency: The Defense Health Agency
The Defense Health Agency is a primary component of the Military Health System. Operating as an integrated medical network, the DHA administers healthcare delivery to over 9.5 million uniformed service personnel, retirees, and their families globally. The agency's core objective is to ensure the combat support capabilities of the Joint Force while delivering high-quality healthcare anywhere, anytime.
Working within DHA's Military Treatment Facilities means joining a collaborative circle of medical professionals. The Camp Lejeune facility operates in a fast-paced environment where clinical laboratory services are critical to urgent surgeries, trauma services, and daily care routines. Specifically, the Transfusion Services branch supports specialized blood banking, matching, and preparation operations that are critical for preserving lives.
Job Responsibilities
As a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Camp Lejeune, your duties will extend beyond traditional routine testing. You will lead complex, technically demanding clinical procedures requiring concentrated focus and technical expertise.
Key responsibilities include:
- Advanced Clinical Testing: Executing highly specialized, multi-step assays that demand precise manual skills and analytical evaluation.
- Quality Control & Quality Assurance: Reviewing daily quality control data, detecting variances, identifying underlying instrument issues, and executing systematic troubleshooting workflows.
- Blood Product Manufacturing: Producing and handling fragile blood products in strict compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
- Regulatory Compliance: Monitoring and preserving exhaustive documentation to ensure absolute alignment with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) standards.
- Inventory & Logistics: Coordinating the supply, storage, and secure shipment of blood products across networks.
- Mentorship & Instruction: Guiding, training, and evaluating junior technicians, laboratory assistants, and incoming military staff.
Requirements and Qualifications
To qualify for this GS-11 position, candidates must meet clear educational and specialized professional thresholds. The hiring agency reviews candidates based on either direct academic achievements, specialized laboratory experience, or a calculated blend of both.
Educational Requirements
Candidates can establish educational eligibility through one of three pathways:
- Accredited Degree + MLS Program: A bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution incorporating biological science, chemistry, and mathematics courses, accompanied by successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the NAACLS.
- Medical Technology Program: A comprehensive 4-year course of study featuring at least 12 months in an approved medical technology school or clinical hospital program.
- Scientific Degree + Professional Experience: A bachelor's or graduate degree including 16 semester hours of biological sciences (with microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (including organic or biochemistry), and 1 semester hour of mathematics, coupled with 5 years of comprehensive, full-time clinical laboratory experience.
Specialized Experience
In addition to the basic academic parameters, candidates must present at least one full year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-09 grade level in federal service. This experience must clearly show expertise in:
- Running complex diagnostic testing within a clinical laboratory.
- Calibrating, troubleshooting, and maintaining laboratory analyzers.
- Implementing and assessing quality control parameters.
Alternatively, a Master's degree or higher in Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, or Medical Technology can serve as a full qualifying substitute.
Qualifications Comparison
Understanding how your credentials map to the position's requirements is vital for success. The table below outlines the differences between the minimum standards and the preferred credentials for this role:
| Criteria | Minimum Requirements | Preferred Credentials (Highly Competitive) |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor's degree in a physical/biological science with MLS coursework | Master's degree in Medical Laboratory Science or Clinical Pathology |
| Certification | Eligible to work (no mandatory national exam required for basic entry) | Active ASCP or AMT certification as an MLS or MT |
| Work Experience | 1 year of general clinical lab experience (GS-09 level equivalent) | Multi-year background in Blood Donor/Transfusion Services |
| Licensure | Holds or is eligible for state licensure if required by local law | Active state-issued laboratory scientist license |
| Security Clearance | Ability to pass basic background checks | Active Secret security clearance on day one |
Salary Overview & Financial Incentives
This position is graded at the GS-11 level, which offers competitive base pay along with localized market adjustments:
- Salary Range: $74,678 to $97,087 per year.
- Locality Pay: The quoted salary range includes localized market supplements adjusted for Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
- Recruitment Incentives: Highly qualified candidates may be eligible for a specialized sign-on or recruitment incentive.
- Relocation Support: Relocation assistance or incentives may be authorized on a case-by-case basis.
- Advanced In-hire Rates: The agency holds authority to approve an advanced salary step within the GS-11 bracket for exceptional hires.
Comprehensive Benefits Package
As a federal employee within the Department of Defense network, you will have access to a premier benefits program designed to provide long-term personal and financial security:
- Healthcare & Coverage: Excellent health insurance plans (FEHB) with major government-subsidized premiums, alongside comprehensive dental and vision options.
- Retirement Pension: Inclusion in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which provides a lifetime defined benefit pension.
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): A retirement savings account modeled after private-sector 401(k) plans, featuring up to 5% automatic and matching agency contributions.
- Paid Time Off: A flexible leave program that accrues 13 to 26 days of annual leave (based on years of service), 13 days of sick leave annually, and 11 paid federal holidays.
Application Tips for Success
Applying for a federal position requires meticulous attention to detail. The DHA uses automated and manual systems to screen packages. Follow these essential tips to keep your application in the competitive pool:
- Observe the Resume Page Limit: This announcement enforces a strict two-page limit for resumes. If your document is even one page over this limit, your application will be excluded from consideration. Focus only on relevant laboratory roles.
- Quantify Your Professional Experience: For each position listed on your resume, include your exact job title, employer, start and end dates (month/year), and the number of hours worked per week.
- Upload Legible Supporting Documents: You must provide clean transcripts and copies of your professional certifications. If you qualify based on education or are substituting education for experience, omitting your transcripts will result in an automatic 'ineligible' rating.
- Describe Your Duties with Plain Language: Avoid using hyper-localized military terms or obscure laboratory acronyms. Write descriptions that clearly prove you have performed instrument maintenance, quality assurance, and high-complexity assays.
- Sanitize Shared Records: If you upload military orders or personal records containing private details of other individuals, sanitize those documents beforehand to protect personal information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can foreign-educated candidates apply for this position?
Yes, but you must submit an official evaluation from a recognized private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign education credentials. This document must state that your academic program is fully equivalent to a regional, accredited U.S. education program.
Is drug testing mandatory?
Yes. Because this role is located within a Department of Defense medical environment, passing a pre-employment drug screen is mandatory, and you will be subject to random screenings throughout your employment.
What is the deadline for applications?
All application materials, including your completed occupational questionnaire and supporting documents, must be fully uploaded and submitted through the USAJOBS portal by August 19, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
Are veterans given hiring preferences?
Yes. Veterans and military spouses are evaluated alongside all other qualified public applicants, and preferential hiring policies will be applied according to standard federal civil service rules.
The Clinical Laboratory Scientist vacancy at Camp Lejeune is a stellar career opportunity for clinical professionals looking to apply their skills in a high-impact environment. By ensuring that blood supplies are safe, compliant, and ready for transfusion, you will directly support the life-saving missions of the Defense Health Agency. Review the education requirements, refine your resume to the strict two-page limit, and submit your application before the August 19, 2026 deadline to embark on this meaningful path.
Why This Clinical Laboratory Scientist Job Matters
Elevate your laboratory career where it matters most: Support military health and save lives as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Camp Lejeune.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist Job Overview
The Defense Health Agency is seeking a skilled Clinical Laboratory Scientist to join the Transfusion Services division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Utilizing Direct Hire Authority (DHA), this role offers a chance to manage specialized blood products, lead quality assurance standards, and support joint force readiness in a high-impact federal healthcare environment.
Requirements for Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Must be a United States Citizen.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.
- Must undergo and pass pre-employment drug testing.
- Successful completion of a physical or medical examination, if required.
- Subject to a one-year probationary or trial period.
- Must possess a bachelor's or graduate degree in biological science, chemistry, or mathematics, plus completion of an accredited MLS/CLS program.
- Alternatively, a full 4-year medical technology curriculum or a degree combined with 5 years of acceptable clinical laboratory experience.
- A minimum of one year of specialized clinical laboratory experience equivalent to the GS-09 level (instrument maintenance, quality control, and testing).
Preferred Qualifications for Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Professional certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) through the ASCP, AMT, or an equivalent accredited credentialing board.
- Proven clinical laboratory experience in Blood Donor or Blood Transfusion Services.
- A current and active state license to practice clinical laboratory science, if required by local state authorities.
Federal Benefits & Perks
- ✓Competitive annual salary under the GS-11 schedule ($74,678 to $97,087 per year).
- ✓Recruitment incentives may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
- ✓Relocation incentives may be authorized to assist with moving costs.
- ✓Advanced In-hire salary steps may be approved for exceptional candidates.
- ✓Comprehensive federal healthcare, dental, and vision insurance options.
- ✓Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan.
- ✓Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with generous government matching contributions.
- ✓Paid annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays per year.
💡 How to Apply Clinical Laboratory Scientist Job & Insider Tips
Application Steps for Clinical Laboratory Scientist Job
- Access the official USAJOBS platform and log in or create a secure profile.
- Prepare a resume that is strictly limited to two pages or less; longer resumes will be automatically excluded.
- Upload comprehensive transcripts verifying all completed biological, chemical, and mathematical coursework.
- Submit copies of active professional certifications (e.g., ASCP, AMT) and state licenses.
- Complete the specialized online assessment questionnaire thoroughly.
- Submit the final application package before the closing deadline on August 19, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
💡 General Tips
- Adhere strictly to the two-page resume limit. Any resume exceeding two pages will be immediately thrown out by HR.
- Explicitly detail your specialized clinical experience. Highlight active work in instrument calibration, quality assurance, and clinical assay execution.
- Quantify your experience by listing exact start and end dates (month/year) along with the average hours worked per week for every position.
- Ensure your academic credentials and transcripts are legible and directly uploaded; foreign degrees must have certified professional equivalence evaluations.
- Avoid using obscure institutional acronyms; explain your qualifications in plain, professional language that HR generalists can easily evaluate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my resume is longer than two pages?
HR will immediately disqualify your application if your resume exceeds the strict two-page maximum limit.
Are relocation or sign-on incentives offered for this role?
Yes, recruitment incentives, relocation incentives, and advanced in-hire salary steps may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Do I need a specific professional certification to qualify?
While professional certification from agencies like ASCP or AMT is highly preferred, it is not an absolute minimum requirement. However, submitting proof of certification strongly enhances your competitiveness.
Is this job open to non-citizens?
No, this position is strictly open to United States citizens.
What level of security clearance is required for this position?
Selected candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.