Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3.

• Perform laboratory testing - Conduct clinical laboratory tests in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, immunology, serology, and blood banking, including adapting procedures for unusual specimens or situations.
• Evaluate test results - Recognize normal and abnormal findings and troubleshoot or repeat procedures to ensure accurate laboratory results.
• Operate laboratory equipment - Operate, calibrate, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment; prepare reagents, stains, and culture media; and monitor quality control activities.
• Collect and process specimens - Collect and process patient specimens, evaluate specimen acceptability, accession and track specimens in laboratory systems, and prepare specimens for referral testing.
• Support quality and compliance - Validate and document laboratory results, communicate laboratory information to healthcare providers, and support quality assurance and accreditation activities in compliance with CAP, CLIA, and safety requirements.

Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

On-call hours or standby duty may be required. Position may be subject to rotating shifts: days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement:

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Financial Suitability Requirement:

This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

GS-4: Your resume must demonstrate the following: Six (6) months of general experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided you with familiarity of the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the position to be filled.
AND
Six (6) months of specialized experience performing technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or technical support work in a closely related, field such as biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled.
OR
Completion of an associate degree program that included, during the second year, approximately one year of training in a certified laboratory assistant program approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
OR
One (1) year of study that included at least six (6) semester hours in chemistry and/or biological sciences, plus completion of a full-time medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) training program of approximately one year that included instruction in chemistry, hematology, blood banking, microbiology, and serology, along with supervised laboratory practice related to patient diagnosis and treatment.
OR
Two (2) years of study that included at least twelve (12) semester hours in chemistry and/or biological sciences directly related to the position to be filled.
OR
A combination of education and experience.

GS-05: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Performing CLIA-waived laboratory testing and documenting quality control activities; Collecting routine venipuncture and capillary specimens while verifying patient identity and documentation; Preparing, labeling, storing, and accessioning specimens into laboratory information systems; Maintaining laboratory supplies, equipment, and logs in compliance with biosafety and infection control procedures; Providing laboratory support by distributing reports, instructing patients on specimen collection, and assisting with routine cleaning and sanitizing of laboratory areas.
OR
Completion of a bachelor's degree program with a major or at least twenty-four (24) semester hours in subjects related to the position being filled.
OR
A combination of education and experience. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

GS-06: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Conducting standardized clinical laboratory tests and procedures in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, serology, immunology, and blood banking following established laboratory procedures; Evaluating test results, recognizing abnormal findings, and reporting abnormal results to supervisory or professional laboratory staff; Operating, calibrating, and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment, preparing reagents and solutions, and documenting quality control and equipment performance activities; Collecting and processing patient specimens, assessing specimen integrity, and preparing specimens for analysis or shipment; Maintaining laboratory documentation and quality assurance records while following accreditation, biosafety, and infection control requirements.

GS-07: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Conducting a variety of clinical laboratory tests and procedures in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, immunology, serology, and blood banking, including adapting procedures for unusual specimens or situations; Evaluating test results, recognizing normal and abnormal findings, and troubleshooting or repeating procedures to ensure accurate laboratory results; Operating, calibrating, troubleshooting, and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment, preparing reagents, stains, and culture media, and monitoring quality control and equipment performance activities; Collecting and processing patient specimens, evaluating specimen acceptability, accessioning and tracking specimens in laboratory information systems, and preparing specimens for referral testing; Validating and documenting laboratory results, communicating laboratory information to healthcare providers, and supporting quality assurance, accreditation, and performance improvement activities in compliance with CAP, CLIA, and safety requirements.
OR
1 year (18 semester hours) of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.
OR
A combination of graduate education and experience. Only graduate education is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cutoff day of rating to be eligible for consideration.

How you will be evaluated

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

This job announcement uses the USA Hire Assessment to evaluate applicants. There is no "pass/fail" outcome; results are used as part of the overall evaluation process to determine applicant qualifications. However, if you do not take the assessment within the assessment window timeframe you will be found ineligible for this position. For more information, visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12965810

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

Resume: You are highly encouraged to visit the USAJOBS Help Center before submitting a resume. USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:

• Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/media_document/1076-0160_indian-pref_expires-04.30.25_508.pdf. When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.
• Veterans Preference: If claiming Veteran's Preference provide a copy of your DD214 Form (Member 4 copy). To claim 10-Point Veterans Preference, submit a SF-15 Application (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) along with the appropriate supporting documentation. For additional information regarding Veterans Preference visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov.
• Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
• Current or former Federal employee: Include your most recent SF-50 or if Reinstatement eligible include your Career SF-50.
• Noncompetitive eligibles: Submit additional documents to prove your eligibility to apply to this vacancy.
• Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
• Licensure, Certifications: Applicants should list their license/certifications on their resume, along with the expiration date, if applicable. Certification of licensure/certification will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.

This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Applications will be reviewed and referred as vacancies occur; however, there may not be immediate openings at all locations.

During the application process, you may select up to five locations and will only be considered for positions in those locations. Candidates with complete applications will remain eligible for consideration for up to three months from the date of application or until the announcement closes, whichever occurs first. Consideration will be based on your selected locations, qualifications, and job preferences.

Positions may be filled at any of the grade levels listed in this announcement, with or without promotion potential. Applicants should indicate the lowest GS grade level they are willing to accept.

The first application cut-off date for referral consideration will be five business days after the announcement opens. After that, applications may be reviewed and referred at any time as vacancies occur.

Next steps

Additional locations