Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification
• Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
• Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-11 Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of GS-09
• 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 science (transcripts required)
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement
• Skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes
• Ability to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair instrumentation
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results
• Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions
• Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the health care team - external relations - customer service - and patient education
• Grandfathering provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and certification where applicable
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements - employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency - and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program
• OR The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination
• NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• This position is at full performance level (GS-11)
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include - but are not limited to: Evaluates and solves problems related to the collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis - considering physiologic processes and requirements
• Performs quality control and assurance activities and documents corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement
• Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment - including identifying malfunctions and performing repairs and preventive maintenance
• Ability to diagnose deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction
• Identifies discrepancies - solves problems - and presents solutions
• Answers inquiries regarding test results - methodology - test specificity - test sensitivity - and specific factors that influence test results
• Interprets test results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures
• Assists with evaluating and implementing new techniques and procedures in the laboratory in terms of equipment - method comparison - and establishment of reference intervals using statistical methods
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace with immediate or general supervision
• Participates in education for laboratory professionals
• Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines with minimal assistance
• Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member - giving direction and guidance using underlying principles of laboratory testing
• Functions in more complex targeted laboratory roles - responsibilities - or projects including by not limited to laboratory safety - quality management - quality improvement - analyzer operation - quality control - inventory control - laboratory competency assessment - proficiency testing - education - laboratory information management and/or ancillary testing - with minimal technical supervision
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday
• 12:30pm- 9:00pm
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhavisn04hredrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 05542F