Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
This Job Opportunity Announcement is open to Internal VA and federal employees and Past/Current/Upcoming VHA HPT Graduates.
The public MUST apply to EXTERNAL job announcement number CBSU-12487953-24-JMW.
Duties
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf
Medical Technologist Lead duties include but aren't limited to:
Serves as a Generalist Medical Technologist
Responsible for coverage for clinical disciplines of Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis, Blood Gases, Coagulation, Blood Bank &
HgbA1c (excluding Histology)
Updates policies/procedures adheres to all accreditation standards, performs inventory & ordering duties, quality control program oversight including corrective actions, blood utilization committee member, new method development & Blood Bank computer program oversight including initial program validation & trains staff on program use
Addresses issues & corrects errors according to laboratory policy
Completed work is spot-checked for technical soundness & conformity to laboratory policy & requirements
Serves as expert Blood Bank department technical advisor
Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens &/or environmental samples using
manual & automated techniques
Performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates & validates laboratory procedures & results accuracy rates
Prepares reagents, assembles equipment & verifies correct instrument operation
Maintains assay system validity by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use for patient testing
Evaluates data validity in relation to test system & assay procedures
Correlates & integrates information & performs additional testing to confirm abnormal results
Collect venous & arterial blood samples from patients adhering to all safety & patient care requirements
Judges sample acceptability submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements
Processes specimens/selects appropriate procedures based on knowledge of specimen types, patient information & available laboratory resources
Controls physical conditions & responds to time factors to ensure the physiological state of specimen is maintained
Responsible for mastering preventive maintenance requirements for instruments & testing systems
Resolves procedural, reagent & equipment problems according to written procedures, verbal instructions & previous experience
Provides training/consultation for staff on theoretical & practical procedural aspects & provides laboratory practice demonstrations
Responsible for technical oversight of Blood Bank section/monitors Blood Bank section quality control systems
Ensures timely & thorough data evaluation ensures discrepancies are identified & resolved
Provides equipment oversight ensuring ongoing checks on temperature-sensitive equipment & associated alarms are in continuous operation & checks are documented adequately
Creates/updates procedure manuals to maintain compliance w/ changing accreditation standards
Member of Transfusion Utilization committee
Responsible for compiling/presenting quarterly information & statistics on Blood & Blood products for Medical Executive Board
Participates educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines
Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork
Practices good customer customer service & demonstrates VA I-CARE values
Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results
Identifies problem areas by practicing evidence-based practices on unit
Perform other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, with rotating weekends & holidays
Recruitment Incentive: Authorized
Relocation Incentive: Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Michael Warner at michael.warner3@va.gov, EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary & regular salary increases
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)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection w/ the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees w/ 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) & federal 401K w/ 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 #: PD436-57475-O
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English
- Education and/or Experience Combination
- (1) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.).
- AND
- Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post- baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four- year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree.
- OR
- (2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics
- AND
- Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP- BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory.
- OR
- (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics
- AND
- Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory
- Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following:
- (1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree.
- (2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination.
- Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below:
- (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT.
- (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry).
Loss of Credential. Once certified, MTs must maintain their certification. Loss of certification will result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment.
Grade Determination: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates in addition to possessing all the basic requirements.
GS-11 Lead Medical Technologist Above the Full Performance Level
Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-9), which is directly related to the position to be filled.
OR
Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field.
AND
The candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities, KSAs, in addition to the experience or education above.
1) Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice
2) Knowledge of regulatory, licensing and accrediting agency requirements and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations in order to plan, implement or monitor laboratory programs and services
3) Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section
4) Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation
5) Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload
Preferred Experience: Previous blood bank experience preferred, especially in a hospital setting.
Reference: FormerVA Handbook Reference Part II APPENDIX G24
The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-11.
Physical Requirements:
Frequent & long periods of the following are common: sitting, walking, standing, climbing/descending stairs, and stooping
Regularly reaching above shoulders, using computer, mouse and keyboard
Carry light items: papers, books & medical supplies
Simultaneous perform rapid mental/muscular calculations & analysis
Mild physical labor to complete the tasks at hand
Exposure to blood, chemicals, and other bodily fluids
Other physical demands that coincide with the duties of a laboratory professional
Correctable near/far sighted vision/Hearing Aid allowed
Complete, pass & maintain Basic Life Support course
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts can be unofficial transcripts, but must include your name, the school's entire name, the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, and name of degree received.
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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
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.
Please be clear and specific in describing your experience, or any information in your resume or any attachments you provide. We will not make assumptions regarding any information provided regarding your experience on your resume or any information contained in your application materials. Your application, résumé, 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.
Required Documents
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU USE THE FEDERAL RESUME BUILDER ON USA JOBS AS IT PROMPTS YOU TO ADD REQUIRED INFOMATION NEEDED TO DETERMINATION ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. CV or Resume: Resume must include how to contact you, descriptions of jobs held including the employer's/company's AND supervisor's name and phone number, job title, detailed description of job duties, beginning and ending date, (month and year) of employment, and average hours worked per week. (Required to upload copy of document).
2. SF-50 - Notification of Personnel Action (Current and former federal employees) must submit your latest SF-50 showing your current grade, step and salary. (NOTE: Award SF-50 are normally not acceptable due to the grade step and salary missing.) (Required to be uploaded, and must be submitted if current or former employee).
3. Copy of Transcripts - Required to be uploaded, can be unofficial transcripts, but transcripts must include the following information: your name, the school's entire name, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, & name of degree received. (Required to be uploaded).
4. Copy, or take screenshot, (to include identification information) current, valid permanent & ALL past advanced certifications as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT to determine eligibility. (Required to be uploaded with application materials).
5. Optional copy or take screenshot of current valid Basic Life Support, BLS Card. (Not required to be uploaded but may be uploaded if you have it).
6. Optional cover letter (Not required, but desired).
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to 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.
- Copy, or take screenshot, (to include identification information) current, valid permanent & ALL past advanced certifications as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT to determine eligibility. (Required to be uploaded with application materials).
- Optional copy or take screenshot of current valid Basic Life Support, BLS Card. (Not required to be uploaded but may be uploaded if you have it).
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
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 full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on 09/30/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12487952.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- 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 USA JOBS 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 USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications 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. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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