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

The Supervisory Technologist is a qualified, experienced Medical Technologist that serves as a Supervisory Medical Technologist for Microbiology and Serology Sections of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS). Duties of the Supervisory Technologist include, but not limited to: Responsible for supervision of operation in Microbiology and Serology Sections their area of specialty including preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance. Reviews results, including results from off-hour and weekend shift(s), as appropriate, for correctness as required by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), directs involved technicians/technologists in the correction of errors, and notifies attending physicians as appropriate. Designs and prepares appropriate instrument maintenance logs, reviews these logs monthly, and assures that proper routine maintenance is being done by technicians/technologists. Evaluates and implements the use of new methodologies and instrumentation in the identified Sections. Trains or directs the training of lower grade technicians/technologists in the use of new procedures and instrumentation in the identified Sections. Maintains appropriate levels of supplies and reagents for the efficient operation of assigned Sections. Takes responsibility for the day-to-day supervision of Microbiology/Serology Sections, prepares work schedules and assigns duties to subordinates to assure efficient and timely performance of all tests and procedures. Implements the performance of CAP survey unknown specimens by technicians/technologists in the Section, and prepares the appropriate work sheets. Documents corrective action taken on out-of-range CAP survey results. Assures that all employees under his/her supervision are aware of and abide by the appropriate hospital, laboratory safety, CAP and TJC regulations. Takes responsibility for the quality control program for the Sections, assures that appropriate records are maintained, and investigates complaints from the hospital staff concerning questionable results. Assures that all standards of CAP are always practiced in the Sections, and that the Sections will qualify for accreditation by CAP. Collaborates with facility leadership to develop and implement protocols for performance of new tests in the section. Correlates test results, establishes parameters and monitors conformity to protocols. Performs highly specialized tests in Microbiology/Serology and is also expected to perform routine and non-routine duties based on staffing patterns and as directed by the section supervisor and/or Laboratory Manager. Prepares and reviews reports, maintains records, and provides administrative information. Calibrates, standardizes, and adjusts the above instruments; verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks; and identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures; correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications), to verify results; performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results; and recognizes abnormal results which require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly. Serves as the subject matter expert on Microbiology and Serology Sections within P&LMS for the facility. Develops, reviews and updates procedure manuals in the Microbiology/Serology sections as directed by the laboratory manager and service chief. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) 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. 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: May be available based on the needs of the service Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00818 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 or above. This finding may be based on either of the 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 the certification examination. 3. 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: Supervisory Technologist, GS-12 Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting and regulatory requirements in order to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans and the ability to judge effectiveness of the operation. Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or education and training of laboratory staff. Knowledge of, and ability to, provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. Ability to analyze organizational, technical and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient overall laboratory operation. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders and managers. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget. Ability to set short and/or long term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, new technology, etc. Preferred Experience: Two years of specialized Microbiology experience Supervisory Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12 Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation, see duty section for essential duties of this position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once and sometimes stressful situations.

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 Fayetteville AR VA Medical Center 1100 North College Avenue Fayetteville, AR 72703 US
• Name: Alan Stagg-Scalia
• Phone: (501) 231-9930
• Email: [email protected]