This position is located in the Core Laboratory/Blood Bank of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program within the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, PA. The Medical Technician - Core Laboratory is responsible for performing a wide range of emergency, routine, complex and specialized test procedures in Clinical Chemistry, Coagulation, Hematology, Immunochemistry, Urinalysis, Serology (including Covid-19), and Blood Bank with minimal on-site supervision.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Performs complex automated and manual technical procedures; Evaluates requested procedures to determine the suitability of specimens for analysis, requesting new specimens if necessary; Prepares reagents and primary reference materials; Selects, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of routine and complex procedures using manual and/or micro-processor controlled instruments; Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, performs routing preventative maintenance and documents service on the instruments; Performs daily quality control to assure that the reagents, equipment and temperatures are within the recommended guidelines; Screens test results to detect discrepancies, artifacts, and pathologic change that may warrant additional testing; Performs repeat or additional testing to clarify or confirm abnormal results as necessary; Prepares specimens for send-out and contacts the appropriate transportation service to pick up any lab work to be done outside the facility; Performs blood collection and specimen handling on inpatients and outpatients according to physician/provider orders; and Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: The work requires five (5) days/week, eight (8) hours/day. These positions are permanently assigned to day & 630a-3:00pm. The position may require working other shifts to provide emergency coverage of the laboratory. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Requirements

Qualifications

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: 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~ In addition to the English Language, to qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet at least one of the following requirements: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) in Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Medical Technician - Core Laboratory, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled; performing phlebotomy; maintaining phlebotomy supply inventory; using laboratory equipment; processing specimens for clinical laboratory sections. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. ~OR~ EDUCATION: You must have successfully completed at least one-half year of graduate level education (9 semester hours above a Bachelors degree) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Medical Technician - Core Laboratory position such as chemistry, biological sciences, hematology, microbiology, serology, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Medical Technician - Core Laboratory position such as chemistry, biological sciences, hematology, microbiology, serology, etc. and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Attention to DetailSpecimen CollectionTechnical Competence 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 Requirements: The work requires extended regular physical exertion, such as standing for long periods of time and bending over microscopes or other instruments. Also, regular recurring procedural tasks requiring dexterity, such as pipetting, measuring chemicals and reagents and the intricate repair of sophisticated laboratory equipment. Lifting of moderately heavy items, usually less than 20 pounds is also occasionally required. 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/.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]