The Lead Medical Technologist position is located at the VA Illiana Healthcare System, 1900 E Main St. Danville, IL 61832. Area of Consideration: Open to current, permanent employees that are currently assigned to the Danville VA Medical Center.

Duties

The Lead Medical Technologist facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals and achievements are coordinated with management. This position is responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty including preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation and compliance, as well as acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty. Major Duties: Serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique, and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge. Examples are, but not limited to, molecular/DNA testing, bone marrow examination, genetic testing, and flow cytometry. Conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area. Recommends new/replacement instrumentation. Designs work flow to accomplish objectives in the clinical specialty area. Advises all organizational levels on various aspects of the specialized testing, including the appropriateness of specific tests and takes into consideration the clinical context and usefulness of the test information. Advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses. Identifies training needs appropriate for the type and complexity of the laboratory services performed. Identifies, defines, and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of data or unique or controversial aspects of the testing where no direct precedent exists. Accepts referrals of abnormal or unusual results, observations, problems or issues from laboratory personnel of a technical or administrative nature and provides advice on course of action to be taken as well as monitors progress until problem/issue has been resolved. Conducts on-going reviews of work performed, workflow, equipment maintenance etc. within the various sections of P&LMS that are under his/her direction. Plans, develops, modifies, implements, and coordinates quality control and preventive maintenance programs within P&LMS to insure that acceptable accreditation program requirements are being met. Analyzes emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing. Applies laws, policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor, and maintain the specialized testing. Maintains process control in a specialty area through a multifaceted quality assurance program. Assists with staff competency assessment as applicable. Maintains knowledge of and complies with the federal regulations associated with the Clinical Lab Improvement Act of 1988. Assumes responsibility for the instruction and coordination of teaching activities for Medical Technology students in order to fulfill the requirements of a NAACLS-accredited CLS Program. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm OR 6:00am- 2:30pm with Rotating Weekends, Holidays and on call. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. Education and/or Experience Combination (Transcripts Required): 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. Note: 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 SAHEA), 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 Technologist (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banding, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or 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. Certification (Copy of Certification* Required). Applicant must either: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a medical technologist (MT), or medical laboratory scientist (MLS) given by ASCP-BOR, ASCP-BC, or AMT. OR For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies above, such as but not limited to chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (NB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e.g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). Grade Determinations: GS-11 Level: Experience: Must possess at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) which is directly related to the position being filled. OR, GS-11 Level: Education: Must possess 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. (Transcripts Required) In addition, the candidate must meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities at the next lower grade level and demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: a. Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. b. Knowledge of regulatory, licensing and accrediting agency requirements and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations in order to plan, implement or monitor laboratory programs and services. c. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. d. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. e. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standards, 5/12/2014. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11. Physical Requirements: The employee works and functions in the medical center in a safe manner, including infection control and following practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Danville VA Medical Center 1900 East Main Street Danville, IL 61832 US
• Name: Vivian Cunningham
• Phone: 217-554-3204
• Email: [email protected]