***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***


Some of the duties and responsibilities of this position include (but are not limited to):

• Provides safe, timely preparation of patient specimens from the medical center and referring institutions.
• Sets priorities, schedules, and completion timeframes.
• Oversees and performs work in the grossing areas, frozen section areas and autopsy suite to ensure proper processing of tissue samples, especially those requiring special handling.
• Performing surgical grossing with knowledge of receiving and/or obtaining specimens using appropriate techniques
• Maintaining proper identification and performing all elements of gross examination and sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens according to specifications of the procedure.
• Performs other duties assigned

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Prior Supervisory Experience Preferred

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
• 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

~AND~

This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for furtherconsideration.

The Selective Placement Factor (SPF) for this position is: Have you successfully completed the Pathology Assistant certification examination given by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)? Note: You must maintain status as a certified Pathologist Assistant, including completion of all requirements for continuing medical education (CME) and recertification.

~AND~

To qualify for this position, ALL applicants must meet the following Basic Education Requirement:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Successfully completed a full four (4) year course of study at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher, with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of this position as a Supervisory Health Science Specialist. (This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home at the time the degree was obtained. "Major study" is considered to be 24 semester hours. Transcripts Required - If you do not submit a copy of your transcript, your application may not be processed.) Please ensure that your transcripts show that a degree was conferred. Display copies of degrees or course listings do not provide the information needed.

~AND~

In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirements above. You must also possess one of the following minimum qualification requirements as stated below.

GS-11 QUALIFICATIONS:

Specialized Experience: You must possess at least at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-9) performing the following duties: Experience in performing surgical grossing with knowledge of receiving and/or obtaining specimens using appropriate techniques, maintaining proper identification and performing all elements of gross examination and sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens according to specifications of the procedure. Experienced in recognizing problems with the ability to solve problems using investigative processes. Maintains records and quality assurance data as necessary. Note to Applicants: Your answer will be verified against the information provided on your resume. If your resume does not clearly support your response by addressing your work experience in detail you will be disqualified.

~OR~

Education Substitution: Applicants who do not have specialized experience may qualify via education substitution; in order to qualify based on education at this grade level you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position as a Supervisory Health Science Specialist. (Transcripts required - If you do not submit a copy of your transcript, your application may not be processed.)

~OR~

Combination of Experience and Education Applicants can also qualify by possessing equivalent combinations of completed graduate level education and specialized experience which taken together meet the total requirements for this position. (Transcripts required.)


You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Manages and Organizes Information
• Project Management
• Research

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The supervisor studies and analyzes short and long-range strategic planning activities of the VACT anatomic Pathology section, and coordinates with VISN office as needed. This includes collecting and analyzing data, identification of program needs, and succession planning. The nature of the work requires flexibility in meeting deadlines, which can change often, depending on surgical schedules within the facility. The work my requires long periods of teaching, standing, bending over instruments, counters and tables (microscope, autopsy table, cutting benches), as well as heavy lifting (bodies and supplies). The work procedure requires manual dexterity and depth perception for determining depth and angles of cuts into human tissue. The work requires color identification for visual control of staining procedures. The work requires extended periods of light microscopy to screen and evaluate cytology specimens. The work requires long periods of computer work. The work requires regular and recurring exposure to infections agents including but not limited to tuberculosis, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other agents, body fluids and tissues, and caustic, flammable, noxious, toxic and/or carcinogenic chemical reagents and solutions such as formaldehyde. The work includes the use of extremely sharp cutting instruments in difficult conditions with limited visibility at times. The position is required to utilize personal protective equipment including gloves, goggles, laboratory coats and masks; chemical disposal barrels; and fume hoods. The work requires following all established safety policies and procedures, as written in the Medical Center Safety Manual, as well as the Anatomic pathology procedure manuals. These policies address a wide range of issues, including chemical hygiene, infection control, and personal safety minimizing hazards and accident reporting.


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/.

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. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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.

IMPORTANT: Please ensure your resume include up-to-date contact information (phone number(s), email address(s), etc.)

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

• Resume

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), documentation to support Veterans Preference or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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, i.e., Letter of Intent, 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 refer to the SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" and submit required documents as applicable and stated on the form. Documentation is mandatory to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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