Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory

Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory

**Duties**:
The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) in the Department of State maintains and promotes the health and well-being of America’s diplomatic community who represent a wide range of United States government agencies abroad. The Department assigns Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists (RMLS), Regional Medical Officers (RMOs), Regional Medical Officer Psychiatrists (RMOPs), and Medical Providers (MPs) to selected posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards.
The Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist (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 professionals, assessing local laboratories, and addressing food safety, environmental, and water quality issues. The RMLS travels at least 50 percent of the time to provide services at regional posts.
RMLS duties may include, but are not limited to the following at each regional post of responsibility:
**Clinical**
- Evaluates and reports on the quality of local medical laboratory services, blood banks, and industrial laboratories at home and regional posts
- 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 ServSafe® manager certification
**Diplomatic**
- Collaborates with local laboratory directors and managers
**Administrative**
- Manages the health unit laboratory operations
- Oversees the Quality Management programs
- Writes 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 MED
- Updates the medical capabilities database
**Emergency Preparedness**






- Prepares laboratory testing information for the emergency preparedness programs
- Assists with the post pandemic medical response plans
**Regional Care Responsibilities**
- 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, DC
An RMLS is considered ‘essential personnel’ and is expected to be available on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:
- Be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the FS.*
- Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.






- Meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
- Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**:
- Be at least 20 years old and at least 21 years old to be appointed.
- Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).**
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 experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
**Qualifications**:
**Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities**
The Department has conducted extensive job analysis research to determine Knowledge, Skills,





and Abilities (KSAs) and other attributes conducive to successful performance as an RMLS. An applicant’s education level, work experience, and other qualifications will be considered as part of the hiring decision-making process based on these KSA criteria.
- Applicant must have demonstrated skill in performing tests with detail and accuracy and providing information to appropriate individuals, as necessary. The work involves exercising a high degree of laboratory management and technical expertise.
- Applicant must have knowledge of the following: Medical Laboratory Science, General Anatomy, Medical Terminology, Quality Control procedures, Quality Assurance plans, laboratory equipment used in performing a variety of laboratory tests,





skill in performing preventive maintenance and troubleshooting on laboratory equipment, ability to train other medical professionals in laboratory techniques is required.
- Applicant must be a skilled and experienced Medical Laboratory Scientist capable of working independently. Experience in performing

▶️ Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory
🖊️ US Department of State - Agency Wide
📍 Montevideo