Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, and U.S. Citizens NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician position is assigned to P&LMS at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas. They perform a variety of waived, moderate, and complex tests on biological specimens. They serve as a generalist in the laboratory with responsibility for performing testing in all areas of Chemistry, Hematology/Coagulation, Blood Bank, Microbiology, Serology, and Urinalysis. They have advanced knowledge of Clinical Laboratory concepts, principles, and methodologies, and all laboratory accrediting agency requirements.

The primary duties of the Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician may include but are not limited to:

• Serving as key operator for moderate to high complexity testing analyzers.
• Working directly with the manufacturer and assist with implementing new analyzers, writing procedures, training staff and validation testing.
• Assisting with any instrumentation issues that cannot be resolved.
• Performing routine laboratory testing (both moderate and complex testing) in all areas of the clinical laboratory including Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Chemistry, Immunology, Blood Bank, and Microbiology.
• Packaging laboratory specimens for pick up and shipment to reference laboratories.
• Instructing medical technologist, medical technician, and phlebotomy students as well as new employees in approved laboratory techniques as assigned.
• Performing preventative maintenance as scheduled, on a variety of laboratory equipment, to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures.
• Verifying accurate instrument functioning, troubleshooting instrument malfunctions, and acts on any quality control shifts, trends or out of range results. Identifies unusual results or conditions which may cause erroneous results (instrument malfunctions, interfering substances, faulty operating parameters, or non-standard test procedure used).
• Ensuring that laboratory areas are stocked, maintains appropriate inventories, and notifies appropriate personnel when supplies need to be ordered.
• Maintaining work area in a clean and safe condition according to agency or accreditation requirements.
• Recording laboratory data on charts, logs or computerized forms.
• Entering data into the computerized patient medical record either manually or through instrument computer interfaces.
• Calling critical values to the clinician per laboratory policy.
• Reviewing other technologist/technician manually entered results for accuracy.
• Recognizing and defining testing problems and evaluating methods for solution
• Evaluating, guiding, or implementing possible alternative approaches to standard methods
• Ensuring timely and thorough evaluation of data, ensuring discrepancies are identified and attended
• Obtaining data and complying with the practices, procedures and techniques described in the quality assurance plan
• Correlating quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications), to verify results
• Performing additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results
• Verifying identity of patient and collecting blood specimens with minimal discomfort to the patient using standard phlebotomy techniques.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm including Holidays. Schedule subject to change based on the needs of the service.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 598-00739-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Autorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.
• Certification: All Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations:

(a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

• ASCP, Board of Certification.

OR

• ASCP, Board of Registry.

(b) American Medical Technologists.

OR

(c) American Association of Bioanalysts

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the Basic Requirements, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for each grade level. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.

Experience. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs i. - iv. and the advanced KSA as identified by the corresponding asterisk(s) if MLTs are assigned advanced MLT duties:

i Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.
ii Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing.
iii Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes.
iv Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment.
v. Knowledge of laboratory information technology {IT) systems including troubleshooting systems issues, interface requirements
between new instruments and existing IT infrastructure and laboratory IT test development.
vi *Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint
Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with continuing education and employee orientation to
ensure staff compliance with safety requirements.
vii *Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards.
viii*Ability to assist with quality management activities in the laboratory, including monitoring and evaluating quality in
accordance with CUA and CAP, conducting quality improvement activities and communicating quality management results.

(c) Assignments. MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. They are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks including, but not limited to, advanced blood banking (antibody titers, elutions), advanced microbiology (Mycobacterium (Acid Fast Bacillus) Identification and Sensitivities, Mycology Identification, Virology, Anaerobic Culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction testing), molecular testing, high complexity testing, recording workload statistics, quality management projects and obtaining data for validation studies. Advanced ML Ts may be expected to independently operate the full range of laboratory functions at remote sites. Their duties consist of advanced operation, training and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems. ML Ts at this level may act as key operators for specific instrumentation. Advanced duties may also include one or more of the tasks identified below. When these duties are required, advanced ML Ts must also demonstrate corresponding KSA(s) as identified by the asterisk(s) below.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees;
2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees; and
3rd Area of Consideration - current/past Health Professional Trainees (HPTs) - if applicable; and
4th Area of Consideration - all other applicants based on Veterans' Preference (Unless a FY Shortage Occupation).

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee

Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:

• Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• CV/Resume
• Other (2)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Selections from this announcement will be made without regard to Veterans' preference in accordance with OCHCO Bulletin dated 9/25/2025.

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