This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

This job opportunity announcement (JOA) will be used to fill TWO (2) full-time and permanent Supervisory Medical Technologists (Clinical Microbiology) and (Chemistry) vacancies at the Lexington, KY Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Please read this announcement in its entirety before beginning the application process to ensure you submit all the required documents. See Required Document sections in this announcement before applying. Please read the application questionnaire before applying: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12590510. Federal Resume Tips, Please READ These assignments require specialized training and experience. The incumbent must have advanced knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. They have wide latitude for exercising independent judgment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and are performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory Medical Technologist (Chemistry) Duties are included but not limited to: Plans and schedules on-going work Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies Day-to-day supervision of highly complex test performance of chemistry, toxicology, and immunochemistry disciplines Is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff Assists the Service Chief, Section Director, and Lab Manager in designing, developing and establishing quality assurance programs and measures Recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, gives advice and counsel, and evaluates work of subordinates Is responsible for budgeting, managing, and maintaining funds relative to their sections as a part of the Service's control point Is responsible for the contracting of services within their section Designated as the contracting officer's representative (COR) for these contracts Performs any other duties which are in the best interest of patient care and deemed necessary by the supervisor Supervisory Medical Technologist (Clinical Microbiology) Duties are included but not limited to: Plans and schedules work. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures necessary to complete workload Ensures all staff and affiliate staff are in compliance with accrediting and regulating bodies Monitors test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance and initiate corrective action Provides advice and counsel to subordinates Evaluates work of subordinates Verifies orientation, training and competency assessment of assigned staff Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level Manages document control Develops and administers performance standards, position descriptions and/or functional statements Is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies Collaborates with the Service Chief, Section Director, and Lab Manager to select instrumentation or assays to realize the needs of the service to meet patient care goals Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications Assists the Service Chief, Section Director, and Lab Manager in designing, developing and establishing quality assurance programs and measures Standardization of procedures for managing supplies and equipment Performs any other duties which are in the best interested of patient care and deemed necessary by the supervisor. This may include phlebotomy. Develops new policies and guidelines, formulate plans, and the ability to judge effectiveness of the operation Analyzes organizational, technical, and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient overall laboratory operation Manages fiscal matters of the functions supervised, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget Performs any other duties which are in the best interested of patient care and deemed necessary by the supervisor Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30293-F; 30297-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [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. English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education and experience: Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-11), 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. Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/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). 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 MTs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply: (1) MTs that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) 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. (3) MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If MTs who were retained in this occupation under this provision leave the occupation, the MT loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met for the GS-12, Supervisory Medical Technologist. GS-12 Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), which is directly related to the position to be filled. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate MUST demonstrate all of 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: One year of experience as a Lead Medical Technologist GS-0644-11. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G24. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. (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.

Education:
(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.

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 Lexington VA Health Care System 2250 Leestown Road Lexington, KY 40511 US
• Name: Kendall Bedell
• Phone: 570-550-2839
• Email: [email protected]