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

Medical Technologist (Technical Specialist-Microbiology or Chemistry) has the professional oversight responsibilities as assigned which may include: Large scale automated analytical instrument system; specific areas of laboratory functions, such as employee competency records, supply functions, quality control review, new method development, or employee or student training; and/or provide professional and technical advice to other technicians and technologists. Major duties for this position will include, but are not limited to: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technologist profession. Performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles. Follows established policies and procedure Troubleshoots quality control issues. Identifies discrepancies, solves problems, and presents solutions. Enters Incident reports for Process improvement. Troubleshoots test result discrepancies in assigned area. Evaluates action and correlates data. Communicates with supervisor as needed. Communicates with healthcare providers on patient history or condition to evaluate the test result validity as needed to troubleshoot unusual results. Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results. Consults with supervisor or pathologists when needed. Trains and instructs new employees and students. Gives direction and guidance using principles of laboratory testing and service policy and procedures. Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member. Provides excellent service in accordance with the code of conduct. Participates in proficiency testing, competency testing and Performance Improvement and helps maintain accreditation by participating in quality improvement goals of the laboratory and healthcare system. Participates in mandatory in-services regarding Safety, OSHA, Infection Control, etc. Manages competency folder for compliance. Adheres to practices and regulations governing safety and security in the workplace. Maintains confidentiality regarding administrative and patient issues. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Positions requires weekend, holiday, on-call, and disaster rotation schedule as needed to ensure patient care needs are met. Compressed/Flexible:Not available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not available Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not available EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance at [email protected] . Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 20826F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. English Language Proficiency: Be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 USC 7402(d) and 7407(d). Education and/or Experience Combination (Transcripts Submtted): Applicants must possess one of the combinations listed below: (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 above. This finding may be based on either of 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 certification examination. Certification (Submitted): Candidates must possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. 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). Grandfathering Provision: All [persons] employed in VHA [in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this] qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration [that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation]. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. If an MT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. MTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Medical Technologist (Technical Specialist) Applicants must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-9), which is directly related to the position to be filled. Experience includes serving as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge (e.g., molecular/deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)/genetic testing, bone marrow examination, and flow cytometry); advising all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context; advising on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses; analyzing emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing; applying policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor and maintain the specialized testing; working independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner. OR, Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field. Preferred Experience: Previous experience in microbiology or chemistry (two positions). References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II Appendix G24, dated 5/12/2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The MT must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 50 lbs, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.

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 CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Janice Lord
• Phone: (727) 398-6661 X64230
• Email: [email protected]