Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to the public NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Performs highly specialized/complex or difficult examinations utilizing B-mode, 2 dimensional ultrasound, Color Doppler and Pulsed Wave Doppler measurements.
• Performs studies such as, ABIs/arterial waveforms, carotid duplex, peripheral arterial duplex of native arteries and bypass grafts, AAA studies, EVAR duplex, AV Fistula/graft duplex, renal mesenteric duplex and venous studies.
• Triage vascular lab order/procedure request, patient condition to ensure appropriate vascular examination.
• Obtain a brief history and physical pertinent to a peripheral vascular disease with familiarity with the associated signs and symptoms.
• Independently make standard examinations and makes more in-depth examinations when abnormalities are present.
• Advises the vascular physician and ordering provider of preliminary results of the exam, recognizing significant findings that require emergent care and relaying information to insure proper treatment.
• Correlates findings of non-invasive examinations with findings of other radiologic diagnostic procedures.
• Ensures the accurate evaluation of results of ultrasound studies and appropriate recommendations for further vascular laboratory diagnostic procedures.
• Generates accurate preliminary reports complete with supporting documentation (images) in a timely manner for reading physician's review.
• Communicates urgent /critical, preliminary findings in accordance vascular lab policy.
• Works with patients who are seriously ill and those who have varying degrees of physical disabilities and medical problems.
• Assists vascular surgeon in operating room for vascular access, duplex imaging guidance for advance endovascular procedures and emergent post op procedures as requested.
• Reviews, evaluates and participates in the continuing education programs and refers to pertinent clinical literature with regards to improving the quality of examinations.

Clinical Oversight:
a. Ability to perform standardized, routine vascular ultrasound procedures and/or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels.
b. Performs complex procedures requiring the ability to select appropriate equipment based on symptomology and the objective of the examination and the ability to adapt procedures and techniques to enhance diagnostic results.

Quality Oversight:
a. Adhere to comprehensive Quality Assurance plan.
b. Ensure appropriate standards are maintained for laboratory accreditation.

Care Coordinator: Interact with physicians, technologists/sonographers, fellows, residents, nurses, and clerical staff regarding daily operations, data management and patient care issues

Compliance:
a. Guarantee compliance with hospital policies / procedures and ensure compliance to vascular lab policies/ procedures and examination protocols.
b. Adhere to the medical center protective equipment policy.
c. Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality. Modesty and comfort will be observed for each patient. When performing vascular examinations, safety for the patient will be observed at all times.
d. The technologist must have knowledge of the different medical equipment that is attached to the patient when they are in the Vascular Lab for their examination.

Supervision and Evaluation
Function as a vascular technologist with direct oversight from staff RVT/RVS personnel. Oversight to be continuous for the first 500 combined cases
a. Due to the nature of real time imaging in ultrasound, the technologist works independently and only in consultation with the vascular specialist if diagnosis requires real time discussion at time image capture. Works under the indirect supervision of the Chief Technologist.
b. Due to the complexity of vascular ultrasound, the sonographer will work in collaboration with ordering providers on diagnosis, pathology and order sets for optimal imaging acquisition. At times, this requires the sonographer to direct a provider on the correct exam for the cardiovascular condition or organ pathology being evaluated

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: 7:45 Am -1630pm, Monday - Friday, Tours of duty may change depending on needs of the Vascular Surgery Division or medical center.
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.
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
Functional Statement #: 0000000

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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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

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.
• Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• Licensure or Certification: Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
• Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

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:

GS-6
(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform routine, standardized vascular ultrasound procedures where the technician is not expected to deviate from established procedures.

(b) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to perform standardized, routine vascular ultrasound procedures and/or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels.
2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs and structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography.
3. Ability to prepare preliminary reports from the examination including documentation of procedural difficulties in the medical record.

(c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.

GS-7
(a) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which demonstrates that the technician has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform complex procedures requiring the ability to select appropriate equipment based on symptomology and the objective of the examination and the ability to adapt procedures and techniques to enhance diagnostic results.

(b) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels which require adaptation of procedures or instruments.
2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs and structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography. This would also include knowledge of physiological influences on the hemodynamics of blood flow.
3. Knowledge of pharmacology and chemistry to understand drug reactions, action, effects, and method of administration specifically related to vascular ultrasonography.
4. Knowledge of disease entities that impact the vascular system and their influence on the test results to select the appropriate procedures.
5. Ability to obtain a patient history and perform and appropriate physical assessment based on patient presentation and type of exam to include observation, inspection, auscultation, and palpation.

(c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

GS-8
(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures as a senior technician.

(b.) In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation.
2. Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts.
3. Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations.
4. Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume.
5. Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease.

(c) Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

Preferred Experience: Previous experience in undertaking duplex examination of the vascular system.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is 08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 06 to 08.

Physical Requirements: ???????See VA Handbook 5019

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.

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

• 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.

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 (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps