Career Center

Summary

The Incumbent facilitates team or unit processes by working under the guidance of the supervisor and in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks - priorities - goals - needs - and achievements are met. This assignment requires specialized training and experience. Employee must have advanced knowledge of of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance.

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: Individuals must meet one of the requirements below: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university - leading to a bachelor's or higher degree - that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist - such as - but not limited to clinical biology - microbiology - physiology - pre-medical - medical lab technology - chemistry - immunology - physiology - anatomy
• OR - Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both)
• OR - Successful completion of two years of progressively higher-level graduate education - leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree - with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist - such as clinical biology - microbiology - physiology - pre-medical - medical lab technology - chemistry - immunology - physiology - anatomy
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials - and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification
• The ASCP requires completion of one of the following for a candidate to be considered "board eligible" to take the certification exam: Successful completion of a histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
• OR - One year of full-time experience in all of the following: fixation - embedding - microtomy - processing - and staining in a histopathology (clinical - veterinary - industry - or research) laboratory
• For grade levels at or above the full performance level GS-9 - the candidate must have HTL certification
• Temporary appointments of non-board-certified histopathology technologists may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• Loss of Certification: Employees who fail to maintain the required certification must be removed from the histopathology technologist - GS-0601 occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency
• Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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: Histopathology Technologist - GS-11 (1) Education and Experience
• Must meet one of the following: (a) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level - which is directly related to the position to be filled
• or (b) Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education that included a clinical practicum
• or (c) A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in histopathology technology or a directly related field that included a clinical practicum
• NOTE: Advanced duties may include one or more of the tasks identified below
• Additionally - when these duties are required - the advanced histopathology technologist must demonstrate the corresponding KSAs as identified in KSAs (g) through (k): (a) *Mohs: Performs color mapping - embedding with precise orientation - cryostat sectioning - and staining of all types of Mohs specimens under the direction of the Mohs surgeon
• (KSA g) (b) **Electron Microscopy (EM): Utilizes an electron microscope - performs ultrathincryomicrotomy - and carries out staining of ultrastructural components
• (KSA h) (c) ***Safety Coordination: Oversees safe handling of specimens - chemicals - and equipment by all staff and ensures adherence to safety regulations
• (KSA i) (d) ****Laboratory Education: Plans and administers an ongoing continuing education program for laboratory staff to meet accreditation requirements
• (KSA j) (e) *****Automated Data Processing Applications Coordinator: Carries out day-to-day operations related to laboratory information systems/computer use and system maintenance
• (KSA k) (3) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate KSAs (a)-(f) and additional KSAs based on the specific duties assigned: (a) Knowledge of histopathology techniques - chemistry - anatomy and physiology principles - theories - concepts - and methodologies sufficient to process specimens and perform a full range of routine and specialized tests
• (b) Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of the instrumentation necessary to prepare specimens for diagnosis
• (c) Skill in applying professional - complex anatomic pathology principles - practices - concepts - and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques
• (d) Ability to identify and test suboptimal specimens and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate the impact on patient's sample
• (e) Ability to organize - coordinate - and prioritize simultaneous work assignments - both individual and team related
• (f) Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity
• (g) *Skill in performing detailed Mohs procedures
• (h) **Ability to perform ultrathin microtomy - and operate an electron microscope
• Knowledge of microanatomy sufficient to note ultrastructural and microchemical findings
• (i) ***Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines from organizations such as College of American Pathologists (CAP) - The Joint Commission (TJC) - and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements - including continuing education and employee orientation
• (j) ****Skill in planning and administering an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards
• (k) *****Skill in maintaining and troubleshooting computers and laboratory system instrumentation
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11 Physical Requirements: Intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds)
• light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (up to 4 hours)
• standing (up to 4 hours)
• repeated bending (up to 2 hours)
• intermittent - but possible prolonged stooping and kneeling
• ability to distinguish basis colors
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens
• ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise
• working closely with others
• high cognitive function required to working in a fast paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy
• emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations
• ability to wear required to personal protective equipment as required.

Duties

• Facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed and team priorities - goals - needs and achievements are coordinated with management
• Organizes - coordinates - and prioritizes work assignments
• operates maintains - and troubleshoots instrumentation utilized while preparing specimens for diagnosis
• Performs advanced procedures and analysis of tissue samples and guides staff in the preparation of the most difficult specimens
• Acts as technical resource - troubleshooting a variety of specialized lab tests - identifying suboptimal issues - and uses independent judgement and resources to resolve concerns
• Demonstrates skill in applying professional - complex anatomic pathology principles - practices - concepts and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques
• Introduces new tests including stain protocol research - test protocol setup - validation testing - and record-keeping and documentation
• Utilizes information technology to perform tasks related to histotechnology
• Performs macroscopic tissue examination which is a high complexity testing - processing and grossing of small specimens and more complex specimens of all tissue types - requiring high knowledge of anatomy and physiology - knowledge of specific organ system dissection techniques - knowledge of dissection and sectioning techniques and gross description
• Other assignments as needed
• Work Schedule: 07:30 a.m
• - 4:00 p.m
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: #41086F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized