Pathology Specialist Job in White River Junction, VT

Vacancy No. CBTD-12756470-25-JES Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $83,742.00 to $108,859.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Part-time
Open Date 7/1/2025 Close Date 7/14/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
White River Junction, VT


Summary

The position serves as a Pathology Specialist in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service within the White River Junction VA Health Care System located at White River Junction, Vermont.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to Current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration including permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees, current permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 and permanent full-time Title 38 employees.

Duties

This Pathology Specialist position is located in the Office of the Chief, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at White River Junction VA Medical Center. This position serves as an assistant to the Physicians. The specialist provides technical and administrative assistance, oversight, and coordination of all sections and subsections of the Anatomic Pathology Service to accomplish program objectives. This position aids Pathologists by performing the gross examination, dissection, dictation, and processing of all samples, preparing frozen section slides for examination by a Pathologist.

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Responsible for overseeing daily Surgical Pathology functions, working independently, or in collaboration with one or more physicians, pathology resident(s), medical student(s), technologist(s), and technician(s) to perform these high complexity functions. The incumbent's thorough understanding of the gross appearance of normal and pathologic processes in a wide variety of patient samples allows him/her to comfortably adapt traditional and advanced methods to handle new or unique cases containing unknown abnormalities. The accuracy of the services rendered is expected to be high, given the incumbent's extensive training and expertise.
  • Receives and accesses samples, including verification of patient identifiers and ensuring that required information is provided. Independently evaluating the acceptability of submitted material and, acting for the Chief, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, returns unacceptable specimens with an explanation to the contributor.
  • Examines and takes appropriate sections of fresh tissue for Frozen Section evaluation, preparing and staining frozen section slides for examination by a Pathologist, including cover slipping and labeling according to all regulatory requirements
  • Accessioning, embedding, cutting, staining, and labeling of routine histology.
  • Ensures that all paperwork for specimens being sent out for consultation or analysis is completed accurately and ensuring that send-out specimens are packed and handled appropriately.
  • Performs resident, intern, medical student, medical technologist, and histotechnologist/technician training.
  • Provides instruction and guidance on tissue accessioning, description and sampling for processing.
  • Selects, collects, and banks research tissue under strict written guidelines of IRB-approved research protocols.
  • Develops and presents educational conferences to staff physicians throughout the facility.
  • Plays a central role in the education and training of resident physicians in pathology and other medical specialties, as well as medical students, medical technology, and histotechnology students regarding the practice of Surgical Pathology.
  • Teaches individuals to orient the tissues and organs to expected anatomic position; and to select samples for microscopic evaluation which enable the pathologist to provide complete diagnostic and staging information and an accurate final diagnosis upon which therapeutic decisions are based.
  • Maintains, develops, or participates in the development of up-to-date Anatomic Pathology protocols.
  • Develops, revises, and integrates protocols for all sections of Anatomic Pathology.
  • Assists in preparation of work areas for all required inspections and participates in the inspection process as required by the Chief of the Service.
  • Collects data and creates graphic representations of the data for presentation and publication.
  • Substitutes for pathologists or other physicians to select and harvest normal, pre-neoplastic, and abnormal (tumor) tissue from surgical specimens for all Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved research protocols and tissue repository arrangements.
  • Complies with regulations guiding tissue repositories, patient privacy, and institutional review boards.
  • Performs additional duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Part-Time, Monday- Friday, Work Schedule TBD.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Pathology Specialist/PD038220
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Notifications:
  • This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
  • This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
  • This position is in the Competitive Service.
  • Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
  • Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period
  • 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.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/14/2025.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Individual Occupational Requirements Basic Requirements: The following education or experience are required to meet the specific qualification requirements for this position.
  • Education: Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provides technical and administrative assistance, oversight, and coordination of all sections and subsections of the Anatomic Pathology Service to accomplish program objectives. Performs gross examination, dissection, dictation, and processing of all samples, preparing frozen section slides for examination by a Pathologist. Understands the gross appearance of normal and pathologic processes in a wide variety of patient samples to comfortably adapt traditional and advanced methods to handle new or unique cases containing unknown abnormalities. Possesses professional knowledge of gross and microscopic human anatomy, pathophysiology, and embryology to distinguish normal versus disease states, including variations in size, configuration, and structural details of all human organs and organ systems, including visceral organs, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and respiratory system at all stages of development. Responsible for planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies, or other work independently. Prioritizes, on a case-by-case basis, the processing of surgical tissues, depending on the critical nature of the pathologic diagnosis to the treatment of the patient. Knowledge and skill sufficient to use and maintain complex instruments (e.g. microtome, cryostat, cameras, and automatic tissue processor). Incumbent is knowledgeable about technical and mechanical indicators of malfunction, sufficient to locate and correct errors. (NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.). OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, with major study courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond progressively higher-level graduate education (beyond the second year), as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume..
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Critical Thinking
  • Education and Training
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Quality Assurance
  • Specimen Collection


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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work of this position requires long periods of standing while performing gross examinations, and while teaching others to do the same, recurring periods of bending when performing frozen sections, the occasional lifting of heavy items (team lifts for bodies or using a lift device), and above average dexterity in dissecting specimens and cutting frozen sections are also required.

Work Environment: The work of this position is primarily performed in a laboratory setting. While the work areas/environments are typically adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated, the work involves regular and recurring exposures to irritating and volatile organic solutions and to potentially infectious material. Protective gear must be worn and special safety precautions must be observed/followed. The Pathologist's Assistant uses protective equipment/clothing which includes laboratory coats, gloves, masks, and protective eye devices.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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

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

  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action



The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
  • 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


SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):
  • Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
  • An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
  • Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
  • 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.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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 questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/14/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12756470.

  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS 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.
  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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Agency contact information

Jessica Steed
Address
VA White River Junction Healthcare System
215 North Main St.
White River Jct., VT 05009
US

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.


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