Optometry Health Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Optometrists in treatment, prevention, follow-up care. The Full Performance Lead Health Technician (Optometry) performs a range of standard tasks, but also assigns, coordinates and oversees daily duties, tasks and other responsibilities as appropriate. This position also collaborates with the Chief of Optometry regarding clinic operations.

Duties

GS-8 Lead Health Technician (Optometry) Full performance level. At this level performs a range of standard but complex diagnostic procedures. In addition to the duties expected of the GS-7 level.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All 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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

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. Experience and Education (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician. OR, (2) Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree. Certification. None Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization 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. Physical Requirements. If selected you will be required to pass a pre-employment physical exam. English Language Proficiency. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d). GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Creditable Experience. (1) Knowledge of Current Health Technician (Optometry) Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with a health care field or knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the current occupation. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment in the health care field. (2) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Health Technician (Optometry) experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. (3) Part-time Experience. Part time experience as a Health Technician (Optometry) is creditable according to its relationship to the full time work week. For example, a Health Technician (Optometry) employed 20 hours per week, or on a ½ time basis, would receive one full-time work week credit for each two weeks of service. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Health Technician (Optometry), GS-8 (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to meeting the specialized experience and minimum educational requirements , the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to assign, coordinate and over see health technician (optometry) daily duties, tasks and other responsibilities 2. Ability to provide and/or monitor staff education and training activities, including interdisciplinary training as necessary 3. Ability to manage and oversee eye clinic RME disinfection activities that include researching manufacturers cleaning and disinfection recommendations, ordering appropriate RME related supplies, as well as ensuring health technician (optometry) relationships 4. Ability to address and resolve patient complaints and/or concerns and addressing patient health technician (optometry) relationships 5. Ability to develop and train health technicians (optometry) to ensure competency in performance of eye and vision care duties, activities and tasks References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/142 PART II APPENDIX G68, April 9, 2021 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: The position requires the operation of multiple devices for the examination of patients. Dexterity of hand-eye and hand-eye-foot coordination is essential and testing may involve standing for extended periods of time with arms at shoulder height. Frequent stooping, bending, or kneeling is required. You must have excellent corrected binocular vision to perform the complex duties required.

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 Erie VA Medical Center 135 East 38th Street Erie, PA 16504 US
• Name: Krystal Jancze
• Phone: (412) 822-2222
• Email: [email protected]