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. 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.

Duties

Duties include but not limited to: These assignments require specialized training and experience. Employees must have advanced knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. They have wide latitude for exercising independent judgment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 100% of the time. Plans and schedules on-going work. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures. Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies. Day-to-day supervision of highly complex test performance. 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 performance specifications. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff, and evaluates work of subordinates. Implements and monitors quality management activities. Performs the full range of supervisory duties. The incumbent participates voluntarily in a scheduled rotation for "on-call" supervisor. This supervisor is available on off-tours, weekends and holidays for any technical or administrative problems in any section of the laboratory. The incumbent acts as "supervisor of the day" on a weekly rotational basis. This supervisor assumes the responsibilities of any other section supervisor during his/her absence, including the Lab Manager. Serves as a consultant to local, network, and national program officials. Keeps abreast of current research, clinical methods, and technical advances in the field. Develops and integrates new techniques, and procedures into laboratory programs. Provides direction and guidance to staff. Advises the Chief of P & LMS on problems of the units supervised that affect other services and the impact it may have on them. Interviews candidates for positions in P & LMS and selects for appointment. Assures that all new personnel receive both the hospital and laboratory orientation. Makes recommendations for selection, promotion, and reassignment of peers and subordinate personnel. Counsels and resolves complaints from employees, individually or as a group, not resolved at the level of the unit, such as Blood Bank, Chemistry, etc. Reviews any serious disciplinary cases of employees or supervisory personnel. Recommends action on the more serious cases. Participates in the resolution of Union and EEO complaints within Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service and conducts disciplinary actions as appropriate. Coordinates service preparation for external reviews which include JCAHO, IG, CAP, FDA, etc., which includes completing survey questionnaires, updating and revising appropriate policies, and assuring that departmental records are accurate and maintained appropriately. Keeps abreast of new technology in instrumentation and justifies expenditures for purchase of major pieces of equipment which can reduce the overall operating costs. Considers cost effectiveness, desirability and space in selection of major equipment. Develops functional statements and competencies for the above personnel, and conduct the annual performance rating of subordinates. Serves as the approving official of performance plans and/or annual performance appraisals for the above personnel. Works collaboratively with other disciplines, upper management, VHA Central Office and/or VISN level staff. Plans and execute short and long range programs. Provide advisory, planning, and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors, and supervisors on specific functions, programs, or problems that are particularly difficult, widespread, or persistent. Solves complex problems and is concerned with unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes, or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements and regulatory or program (i.e., cost effectiveness) requirements. Approves various types of leave, certifies time and attendance records. Supervises laboratory contracts for services and equipment for their section. Serves as the contracting, equipment, and supply Contract Officer's Representative (COR) for the section, and alternate COR for other sections. Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm Functional Statement #: 40246-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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 and/or Experience Combination: 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. OR, 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. OR, 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. 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 above. This finding may be based on either of the following: 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. A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 USC 7402 (d). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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: GS-12 Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), which is directly related to the position to be filled. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility in a complexity index group 1 laboratory or in a complexity index group 2 laboratory that performs at least 1 million Standard Billable Tests annually (reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program). The incumbent supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory personnel including at least one GS-11 subordinate. Recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, provides advice and counsel and evaluates work of subordinates. The supervisor is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance and initate corrective action. Verifies orientation, training and competency assessment of assigned staff. Develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals. Ensures all staff and affiliate staff are in compliance with accrediting and regulating bodies. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level. This individual manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements, and is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution. The supervisor will maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: A. Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting and regulatory requirements in order to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans and the ability to judge effectiveness of the operation. B. Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or education and training of laboratory staff. C. Knowledge of, and ability to, provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. D. Ability to analyze organizational, technical and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient overall laboratory operation. E. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders and managers. F. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget. G. Ability to set short and/or long term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, new technology, etc. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard GS-0644 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

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 Robley Rex VA Medical Center 800 Zorn Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 US
• Name: Crystal Noriega
• Phone: (512) 317-1310
• Email: [email protected]