The incumbent shares, with the director of laboratory service, full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations in a complexity index group 1c laboratory that performs in excess of 1 million Standard Billable Tests (SBT's) annually as reported to the laboratory management index Program (LMIP).

Duties

The incumbent provides guidance and serves as an authority on laboratory medicine. Develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, establishes, and maintains quality assurance and performance improvement programs. Serves as a consultant to local, network, and national program officials. The laboratory manager serves at a larger active, affiliated medical center with comprehensive and complex laboratory services and has full supervisory responsibility for a large staff including GS-12 personnel. Duties include but are not limited to: Reviews and evaluates the extent and quality of services performed in each section of the laboratory. Plan and implements methods for improving services. Reviews and assures overall compliance with quality control and proficiency testing requirements, safety standards, and agency policies and regulations. Compiles and assesses workload and productivity data regarding equipment, supply, and personnel needs in the laboratory. Recommends appropriate resource distribution among laboratory specimens. Coordinates the procurement of expendable supplies and reagents as well as equipment for the laboratory. Performs annual equipment inventory of the laboratory. Assists and advises section supervisors on the writing, reviewing, and revision of procedure manuals. Coordinates recruitment, placement and other personnel actions for the laboratory including recommendation for promotion, reassignment, within grade increases, performance awards, retention, or termination during probationary periods, and adverse or disciplinary actions. Provides counseling for employees. Organizes and conducts new employee orientation and training. Coordinates inservice education programs for laboratory staff. Supports and encourages compliance with the policies of affirmative action to achieve equal employment opportunity. Establishes and maintains relationships with other medical center services, "outside" government and private laboratory facilities, and academic institutions to obtain services and coordinate mutually beneficial projects. Utilizes printed and electronic files containing sensitive information and is responsible for protecting that information from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, and unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement which the employee signs. Develops guidelines for laboratory operations. Assesses laboratory effectiveness. Establishes and maintains quality assurance programs. Serves as an authority on laboratory medicine. 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. Develops and manages program budget. Acts as Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for laboratory contracts. Serves as second line supervisor to all sections of the laboratory. Serves as an adjunct faculty member of the East Tennessee State University. Serves as facility coordinator for the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) training program. Maintains coverage throughout the laboratory and active recruitment and personnel selection functions. Interprets and provides technical guidance on agency policies and procedures. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60392-F 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. 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. ~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. ~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. 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 currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. Loss of Credential. Once certified, MTs must maintain their certification. Loss of certification will result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment. 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-13 Medical Technologist (Laboratory Manager) Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12), which is directly related to the position to be filled. Assignments. 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 25% of the time. The incumbent shares with the chief of laboratory service/medical director full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations 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 and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate. Provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine, including research, agency policies, new techniques and procedures. Develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs. Consults with or serves as a consultant for local, network and national programs and/or officials. Manages regulatory affairs and compliance. Develops and manages program budget and resource utilization, inventory, acquisition and contracting processes. Assists and participates in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical fields of study. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Advanced knowledge of concepts, principles and methodologies of a major clinical laboratory program and operations in order to assess program effectiveness and provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management. Ability to work collaboratively with other disciplines, upper management, VISN level staff and/or VHA Central Office. Ability to plan and execute short- and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/strategic planning. Skill in administrative management (e.g., budgeting, contracting, procurement and property management) in accordance with VHA regulations. Ability to 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. Ability to solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements, regulatory or program requirements (e.g., cost effectiveness). Knowledge of, and ability to, provide the full range of supervisory duties which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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 James H Quillen VA Medical Center Corner of Lamont Street and Veterans Way Mountain Home, TN 37684 US
• Name: David Wiseman
• Phone: (614) 935-3242
• Email: [email protected]