Health Technician Job in Fort Harrison, MT

Vacancy No. CBSU-12700862-25-GL Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $40,332.00 to $52,426.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/24/2025 Close Date 5/23/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort Harrison, MT


Summary

Position is in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service at Fort Harrison Montana. Incumbent performs a variety of functions: Accessioning specimens into computer system; collecting, evaluating, and processing specimens; answering questions related to sample collection; instructing and assisting patients; sending out specimens for testing; following policies and procedures established by the service, medical center, the Veterans' Administration (VA), and regulatory agencies.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. This is an open continuous announcement, concluding on 05/23/2025. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available on a recurring basis throughout the timeframe of this posting.

Duties

Phlebotomy Duties
- Incumbent collects and processes blood and body fluid specimens, ensuring safety and non-traumatic processes are used with critical concern for patient and quality of the specimen with minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required re-sticks; involves correct patient identification; verifies proper tubes are used and correct amount of blood is drawn; labels all tubes with the patient's name, full social security number. date, time and phlebotomist's initials
- Performs blood collection duties in courteous manner; makes patient feel comfortable; explains what is about to happen and any processes required of the patient for specimen collection.
- Adheres to safety, infection control and universal precautions at all times while collecting samples, including wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); proficient in the area of phlebotomy; must develop essential speed required to complete blood drawing duties.
- Must be familiar with tests performed throughout the laboratory, i.e. chemistry, Immunohematology, urinalysis, coagulation, microbiology, and cytology; must be familiar with multitude of laboratory send-out tests, respective requirements, and requirements noted by the laboratories where they are performed.
- Must be familiar with the Vista and CPRS computer systems.
- Responsible for special blood drawing procedures to include but not limited to: a) collecting timed specimens for growth hormone, peak and trough drug levels, glucose and lactose tolerance specimens; b) collecting blood cultures using aseptic technique and; c) urine collection in accordance with the Federal Workplace Drug Testing Program as administered and regulated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for drug testing of new employees.
- Instructs patients in sterile midstream urine collection, 24 hour urine collection, and collection of stool specimens for culture and sensitivity, ova and parasites and occult bloods.
- Assists in teaching laboratory and clinic personnel phlebotomy, specimen collection and specimen requirements.
- Must be able to respond to, report and assist in emergency situations; must know CPR and First Aid procedures.
- Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety and related criteria appropriate to age of patients served.
- Maintains clean workspace and continuously monitors area for contamination; procedures for properly decontaminating spills and safe disposal of all contaminated materials must be understood and followed at all times.

Clerical Duties
- Functions as a resource person and troubleshooter for clinic personnel in executing VISTA order entry and results options; reviews orders in CPRS.
-Investigates missing or incomplete patient laboratory orders and ensures missing or incomplete orders are placed or corrected prior to patient presenting for sample collection.

Accessioning and Processing Duties
- Recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary action; establishes priorities for emergency orders.
- Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies which may cause erroneous test results; processes all specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity. .
- Incumbent is responsible for receiving and storage of Laboratory supplies; required to check expiration date of all reagents and supplies in the room temperature storage room for sequestering the item and notifying the supervisor of the findings.


Work Schedule: Tour of duty depends on the needs of the Service
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD10174-A
Physical Requirements and Environment: Work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, lifting, walking, stooping, and stretching. Work requires manual dexterity and a large degree of concentration. Work is performed in community-based clinic with daily exposure to patients and materials carrying infectious diseases and hazardous chemicals. Proper precautions are practiced. The technician wears protective clothing such as lab coats and gloves when working with specimens. There is frequent contact with patients with undiagnosed illnesses. The employee has the potential to be exposed to communicable disease.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
  • A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. We cannot accept photographs; do not submit a copy of your license.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

GS-05 grade level: All applicants for this position must meet one of the following Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for further consideration:

Specialized Experience (for positions GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled; OR,

Education (for GS-5 positions): Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position; AND,

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement for this series and grade, applicants mut have 1 year of creditable Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-04; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Communication skills; thorough knowledge of VISTA and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS); knowledge of policies and procedures related to patient care; knowledge and skills sufficient to recognize, report and assist in emergency situations; knowledge and skills to observe and report physical or mental changes in a patient; knowledge of tests' names that are ordered and their different synonyms; skill in venipuncture and correct preparation of specimens necessary to obtain required quantities of specimens needed for laboratory examinations; knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medications, and effects of illness in order to provide patient care; knowledge and skills in phlebotomy techniques, procedures and other specimen collection procedures, including use of Vacutainer Collection System, safety needles, syringes and butterfly needles, capillary puncture techniques and use of microtainers; knowledge of infection control, safety, disaster, exposure control, chemical, hand hygiene and infection control plans and universal precaution procedures; and, knowledge of collection, processing and storage requirements, and procedures for laboratory specimens; OR,

Education and/or Training: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation or the completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmental training programs; these programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis, generally through the GS-5 level. Such training meets general or specialized experience requirements depending upon its applicability. Note: only education more than the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. Transcripts are required when basing any or all qualifications on education; OR,

Combining Experience and Education: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-05. Note: Transcripts are required when basing any or all qualifications on education.

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.


Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

Documents Required:
  • Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/23/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12700862.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

VISN 19 HR Contact Center
Address
Montana VA Health Care System
3687 Veterans Drive
Fort Harrison, MT 59636
US

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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