The position is located in the Anatomic Pathology Department of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. The primary purpose of this position is to apply relevant practical knowledge and experience in the provision of support services in the fields of surgical and cytopathology to staff and resident Pathologists, Pathology Technicians, and other facility staff, as well as external customers, including outside laboratories, professional consultants, and mortuaries.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Label cassettes required for the grossing of specimens by staff and resident pathologists. File surgical pathology slides and blocks for permanent storage. Assist in filing and retrieving cytology slides for permanent storage. Log in and mail out slides, blocks and reports to outside institutions and file slides returned from outside institutions. Prepare samples, slides, smears, or other types of specimens. Assist technicians in processing cytology specimens using specialized instrumentation. Assist in loading the H&E stainer and distributing slides to the appropriate staff pathologists. Program and load histology processors with surgical specimens. Change various solutions/ chemicals as necessary. Accession all surgical pathology specimens into the computer system. Resolve and document all procurement and labelling errors encountered in the accessioning process. Accession cytology specimens into the computer system. Collect data for various requirements, reports, initiatives and quality monitors. Compile data extracted in various multifaceted reporting formats. Document maintenance records and temperatures in histology and the morgue. Stock inventory upon arrival and as needed for the entire department. Rotate stock to ensure shorter expiration dates are used first. Recycle alcohol and xylene to reduce chemical waste. Keep the AP and morgue areas stocked and cleaned. Dispose of surgical pathology tissue. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Histology/Cytology/PD04768A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/23/2023. Specialized Experience GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-04; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: slide/ specimen preparation/ preservations, accessioning/ administrative support, supply/ chemical maintenance. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level.Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position is required to substitute education for experience at this level. TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED IF SUBSTITUTING EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level.Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-05. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: ClericalCritical ThinkingCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Diagnostic Medical TestingOrganizational Performance AnalysisQuality Assurance 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. 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

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 Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Brittaney Parks
• Phone: 361-277-5288
• Email: [email protected]