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. Program 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 are not limited to the following description: This is considered the full performance level for a Lead Medical Technologist. An MT/CLS at this level serves as the Night Shift Lead Medical Technologist and facilitates the night shift team processes by working in collaboration with all team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals and achievements are coordinated with management. The lead night shift technologist is responsible for all aspects of the core laboratory (Blood Bank, Chemistry, Hematology) night shift operation including preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation and compliance. They act as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the night shift laboratory. The incumbent is directly responsible for the night shift staff working in the core laboratory including responsibility for daily assignment of work performed; input in performance evaluations; recommendations for appointments, awards, advancement, and, when appropriate , gives the off shift supervisor input on disciplinary actions. They will also identify continuing education and training needs of members of the night shift team. This individual assures night shift compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements as part of the overall laboratory quality management program and assures corrective action is initiated as needed. The Lead Technologist assists the off shift supervisor to assure orientation and competency of staff assigned to the night shift. Functions include but are not limited to the following description: Oversees the Night core lab section, evaluating and monitoring performance of section testing, organization and supplies. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; assists, if necessary, to locate and implement corrections. Maintains proper records for quality management, quality control and workload reports. Ensures that calibrations, standardizations, adjustments of instruments. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs. Successfully coordinates assigned staff orientation and competency reviews with Supervisory staff. Participates in the overall Quality Assurance for the Testing events on the night shift for the Lab and coordinates with the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service Quality Manager in incident reports and corrective actions. Maintains the knowledge of specimen requirements for tests performed in-house and referred to reference laboratories and monitors those criteria are used accurately. Assists with maintenance of up-to-date procedure for the various laboratory sections. Responsible for ensuring that the section meets all regulatory statutes, standards, and regulations; including but not limited to CAP, JACHO, DOT, FDA, VHA, etc. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications) to verify results. Maintains workload statistics and determines the appropriate number of staff as it correlates to workload and the budget goals of the P&LMS within the VACT structure. Incumbent in this position must be prepared to perform the routine bench work and to be available to consult with staff after hours or cover for staff during emergencies and sickness. Enforces safety practices and corrects any hazards that exist. Incumbent assists with work schedules to provide coverage for weekday, weekend, and holiday coverage for the Night Shift Section. The incumbent works with the supervisors of Blood Bank, Chemistry, Hematology and the Off Shift Supervisors in a collaborative effort to effectively utilize the personnel in all sections of the Clinical Laboratory. Work Schedule: Full Time, 40 hrs/week. Monday-Friday 12:00am - 8:00am (rotating weekends and holidays) Compressed/Flexible:Available for compressed/flexible shifts. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 689-F04934 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment Incentive Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Hannah Neilson [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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 (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. 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-11 Lead Medical Technologist (Night Shift): Experience: 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. OR, Education: Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field. Assignment: Facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals and achievements are coordinated with management. 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. Acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. 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. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. Preferred Experience: Generalist experience. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, kneeling, reaching, moderate lifting of instruments and materials up to 50 pounds, walking moderate distances, mental alertness, and ability to work under pressure due to meeting established timetables for documentation

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 West Haven VA Medical Center 950 Campbell Avenue West Haven, CT 06516 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]