The Lead Medical Technologist has a wide latitude for exercising independent judgment within the Service and is the liaison to other facility departments and Outpatient Clinics. The higher-level duties consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and are performed by the incumbent at least 75% of the time.

Duties

The Lead Medical Technologist: Performs full range of laboratory testing at a non-supervisory level. is responsible for compliance with rules and regulations of regulatory agencies such the College of American Pathologists (CAP), The Joint Commission (TJC), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Association for the Advancement of Blood Biotherapies (AABB), and VHA Handbook 1106.01. implements and complies with all safety requirements and regulations as established by policy, procedure, and protocol. is responsible for work assignments, and workflow processes. Incumbent plans and coordinates workflow in accordance with established policy, procedures, and protocols. chooses methods for achieving work goals and objectives. is responsible for highly complex test performance and is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance. assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established test performance specifications. serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for complex, unique, and emerging tests requiring special knowledge. is responsible for all calibrations, quality control, quality assurance, maintenance, proficiency testing, and safety requirements for the Laboratory. performs complex maintenance procedures and provides consultation for troubleshooting to include calibration, quality control, quality assurance, maintenance, proficiency testing, and safety requirements. prepares reports to include quality assurance, proficiency testing, maintenance records and administrate/supervisory reports. Incumbent prepares and presents work related information to supervisors researches qualitative and quantitative methods for laboratory practice. performs statistical analysis on quality control and quality assurance monitors. recommends guidelines for laboratory policy and procedure. is responsible for implementation and monitoring of quality management and quality improvement activities. is responsible for the implementation and coordination of a comprehensive and effective orientation, training, and competency assessment program for students and staff. maintains inventory control for supplies and regents. Coordinates and distributes supplies, reagents and other inventory as needed with other departments and outpatient clinics within VHATXVCB. coordinates with VHATXVCB CBOCs in McAllen, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and Harlingen on reference testing sent to HCC. coordinates with other departments for pre-employment and employee drug testing collections and physicals. is responsible for pre-employment and employee drug testing collections in accordance with established policy, procedure, and protocols to include chain of custody and confidentiality criteria. is responsible as the primary sources of information for maintaining current instrumentation and is responsible for evaluation of new and evolving laboratory instrumentation and automation. applies concepts of Good Laboratory Practices to detect and prevent errors in laboratory practice and reduce process variations that can cause errors. may be assigned to other sites and tours of duty to provide coverage for continuity of service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency: Medical Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Education and/or Experience Combination: (1) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.). AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR, (2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR, (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory.(TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following:(1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree.(2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below:(1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT.(2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry).Loss of Credential: Once certified, Medical Technologists must maintain their certification. Loss of certification will result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Credential: Once certified, Medical Technologists must maintain their certification. Loss of certification will result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment Preferred Experience: 5+ years of general lab experience as a Medical Technologist Knowledgeable with the rules and regulations of regulatory agencies such as the College of American Pathologist (CAP), Joint Commission (TJC), and Clinical Laboratory Improvements of 1988 (CLIA). Competent in preanalytical, analytical, and post analytical of testing phases. ASCP certified or equivalent. Grade Determinations: GS-11 a) Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level GS-9, which is directly related to the position to be filled. (b) Assignments. Facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals and achievements are coordinated with management. Responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty including preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation and compliance. Acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): a. Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. b. Knowledge of regulatory, licensing and accrediting agency requirements and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations in order to plan, implement or monitor laboratory programs and services. c. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. d. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. e. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24 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: Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. Some work on nights/weekends/holidays as needed.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Failure to provide transcripts may result in non-referral of your application if education cannot be verified.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by NAACLS, CAAHEP or ABHES at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the respective website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]