Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 752736 (Include # on all documents)
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/ .
Your salary and grade will be determined by the Professional Standards Board (PSB). The PSB is a peer review process. The PSB will review your individual qualifications, education, professional training/internship(s) and professional experience to determine the most appropriate salary and grade based on your individual accomplishments. Your final salary determination must be approved by the medical center director.
The incumbent serves as a Specialist for Ancillary Testing for a large medical center with 11 CBOC and performs work in the Microbiology/Molecular Diagnostics section of the clinical laboratory. The incumbent is assigned specialized and complex laboratory tasks in program management beyond providing patient test results.
Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques, and require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision.
The work performed is in Ancillary, Bacteriology, Mycology, Mycobacteriology, Immunology, Serology, and Molecular Diagnostics on weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
Assignments may include laboratory test development or modification, method validation/performance evaluation, and/or providing consultation services to health care providers in addition to working the bench in the complex area of Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics.
Tour of Duty: Mon - Fri 8:00a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Rotating Weekends and Holidays)
DUTIES:
These assignments require specialized training and experience. Employees must have advanced knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. They have wide latitude for exercising independent judgment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
Duties/Tasks
Serves as technical specialist providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique, and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge. Examples are, but not limited to: chemistry, special chemistry, urinalysis, toxicology. Serves as technical specialist for multiple instruments and provides guidance for other staff for complex situations and problem solving.
Conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area. Recommends new/replacement instrumentation.
Assists Supervisor to accomplish quality and maintenance reviews and investigations and proficiency testing including follow-up and investigations.
Designs work flow to accomplish objectives in the clinical specialty area.
Assists with various aspects of the specialized testing, including the appropriateness of specific tests and takes into consideration the clinical context and usefulness of the test information. Advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses.
Identifies training needs appropriate for the type and complexity of the laboratory services performed. Serves technical specialist in training new staff with the instrumentation and methodologies of the section. Assists the Supervisor with competency assessment and reviews as required for accreditation and quality assurance.
Identifies, defines, and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of data or unique or controversial aspects of the testing where no direct precedent exists.
Analyzes emerging trends and technology and assists with adopting appropriate methods and testing.
Applies laws, policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor, and maintain the specialized testing.
Maintains process control in a specialty area through a multifaceted quality assurance program.
Assists Supervisor with monthly and as needed QC review and recommends and/or implements troubleshooting and/or range adjustments.
Assists Supervisor with statistical analysis on cross checks, carryover studies, QC/precision studies, quality assurance studies, linearities, calibration verifications, and method validations.
Serves as technical specialist for the peer QC data programs.
Assists the Supervisor with departmental personnel scheduling assignments
Assists the Supervisor with records maintenance, archiving and document control.
Ensures compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as CAP, JC, OSHA, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
a. Citizenship. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
b. Education and/or Experience Combination. An associate's degree in laboratory science or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution or an equivalent program composed of at least 60 semester hours, from an accredited institution that, at a minimum, includes either: (a) 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses; or (b) 24 semester hours of science courses that includes 6 semester hours of chemistry; 6 semester hours of biology; and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology in any combination; and have laboratory training that includes completion of a NAACLS approved clinical laboratory training program with at least 3 months documented laboratory training in each specialty that the individual performs high complexity testing. In addition to the associate's degree, must possess at least 3 years of directly related, full time work experience.
c. Certification. All candidates must currently possess or be eligible for and pass within one year the appropriate certification examination as a medical technologist or clinical laboratory scientist given by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR), the National Credentialing Agency (NCA), American Association of Clinical Chemists (AACC ) or American Medical Technologists (AMT), or the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB). Please include a copy of certification.
d. English Language Proficiency. Medical technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS FOR GS-11: Specialized Experience: Medical Technologists must have the equivalent of 1 year of creditable, progressively responsible experience comparable to the next lower grade level
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, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates evidence of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position to be filled.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
References : VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard, dated March 17, 2006, and OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs0600/0644.htm .
APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: 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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html . All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. *** 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. ***
Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans must claim preference on their application or résumé. Veterans must submit a copy of Form DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy, which shows the characterization of service), and if applicable, an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans Preference and a Preference Letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs dated 1991 or later. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans Preference . Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 (showing the characterization of service) or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx .
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.
BENEFITS:
Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at http://www4.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp .
OTHER INFORMATION:
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
Conditions of Employment:
Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, or 16 with a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, as of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
All Non-VA applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in any 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.
Subject to suitability determination.
Employees who occupy a Testing Designated Position are subject to random testing.
Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see www.sss.gov ).
You may be required to serve a one-year initial probationary period.
Within 30 days after hire, you are required to obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification from the American Heart Association. It is highly desirable that this certification is obtained prior to employment.
Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
Department of Veterans Affairs - 7 months ago
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