This position is located within the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service of the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. This is an advanced position for the histopathology department acting as the subject matter expert of histology procedures and processes for the histology department.

Duties

The Lead Histopathology Technologist assists the Anatomic Pathology supervisor in technical phases of the organizational level on various aspects of specialized and routine testing including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context. May lead other histopathology technicians and/or histopathology technologists or others in performance of histopathology work. At the advanced level, the histopathology technologist independently performs a full range of specialized tests, applying histopathology techniques. Duties and responsibilities of the Lead Histopathology Technologist include but not limited to the following: Performs all routine and special procedures including accessioning, grossing, embedding, microtomy, H&E staining, cytology specimen preparation, and special stains to support the Histology/Cytology Section as needed. Leads the team in identifying, distributing, and balancing workload and tasks among technical personnel (technologists and technicians) in order to achieve turn-around times set by the AP Supervisor and the Chief of Surgical Pathology. Adjusts and accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities, staffing availability, and volume of workload. Monitors and reports on the status of work, checking on progress, lean flow aspects and reviewing completed work to see that priorities, methods, deadlines, and quality results have been met and sustained. Identifies training needs and arranges for and/or personally conducts in-service training for all personnel to satisfy competency issues for regulatory directives. Submits work orders on instrumentation that requires repair by Biomedical Engineers. Communicates with sales and service representatives concerning all instrumentation, product or staining issues relating to staining instrumentation, keeping the supervisor informed at all times. Manages resources effectively by overseeing biweekly inventory control of reagents, antibodies, control material, staining/detection kits, and miscellaneous supportive supplies. IHC readiness is to be maintained two months ahead of need for tests to allow for lot number testing and antibody validation. Communicates with purchasing personnel in the warehouse in relation to inventory problems. Assists the AP Supervisor in managing Equipment Quality Control including QC sheets for annual and monthly records, submitting work orders for repairs, and following up to ensure timely completion. Oversees and participates in performance of all immunohistochemical (IHC), direct immunofluorescence (DIF), In Situ Hybridization (ISH), and special stains (manual or automated) using appropriate controls, multiple detection techniques, staining kits and multiple instruments. Manages the collection, harvesting and processing of all quality control material used in Histology. Establishes and monitors reference values/ranges for quality control blocks to assure the accuracy and validity of results. Investigates, develops, tests, integrates, and obtains approval of all complex IHC techniques including but not limited to new antibodies, new detection kits, and lot number titrations, double staining, and testing of concentrated antibodies. Determines, process, and prepares samples for transport to reference laboratories for testing unavailable in-house. May include slide and/or block preparation and specific requisitions depending on type of test to be performed. Maintains integrity of patient samples and completes processing of reports, ensuring supplemental reports are finalized in a timely manner. Handles all types of troubleshooting relating to samples or reports to ensure contractual expectations are met. Directs disposal of instrument and tissue biohazard waste according to Hazardous Waste Policy. Ensures all professional work areas are kept safe, clean, and organized. Establishes and monitors quality control/record keeping systems and measures to assure the accuracy and validity of test results. Ensures the quality assurance plan is followed for specialized laboratory procedures. Ensures quality assurance information is reported in the appropriate format and within established time frames. Work Schedule: 8am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 40635F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP: Not authorized 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: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Individuals must meet one of the requirements below:-Transcripts Supplied Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist, such as, but not limited to clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy; OR Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both); OR Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education, leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist, such as clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre- medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials, and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Certification-Documentation Supplied. Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification. The ASCP requires completion of one of the following for a candidate to be considered "board eligible" to take the certification exam: Successful completion of a histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS); OR One year of full time experience in all of the following: fixation, embedding, microtomy, processing, and staining in a histopathology (clinical, veterinary, industry, or research) laboratory. Grandfathering Provision. All histopathology technologists employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series, who perform the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date (11/25/2019) of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Determinations: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-11 Lead Histopathology Technologist Education and Experience. Must meet one of the following: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled; OR Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education that included a clinical practicum; OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in histopathology technology, or a directly related field that included a clinical practicum. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of the instrumentation necessary to prepare specimens for diagnosis. Knowledge of histopathology techniques, chemistry, anatomy and physiology principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies sufficient to process specimens and perform a full range of routine and specialized tests. Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques. Ability to identify and test suboptimal specimens and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate the impact on patient's sample. Ability to monitor and make work assignments, balance workload, and ensure duties are completed in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The lead histopathology technologist may lead other histopathology technicians and/or histopathology technologists or others in the performance of histopathology work. At this level, the lead histopathology technologist independently performs a full range of specialized tests, applying histopathology techniques and broad scientific principles from the fields of biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Must be able to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot instrumentation utilized while preparing specimens for diagnosis. Performs advanced procedures and analysis of tissue samples and guides staff in the preparation of the most difficult specimens. The lead histopathology technologist must be skilled in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques. Leads in the introduction of new tests including stain protocol research, test protocol setup, validation testing, record keeping, and documentation. Researches, develops, tests, optimizes and validates complex histochemical stains, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or in situ hybridization (ISH) protocols, including, but not limited to, new antibodies, probes, detection protocols/kits, new lots and concentrated antibody titrations. Troubleshoots a variety of specialized lab tests as well as equipment by using independent judgment and resources available to resolve issues. The lead histopathology technologist identifies suboptimal testing and takes corrective action to minimize or eliminate impact on patient samples. Monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues, and maintains efficient workflow. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility; conducting ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work; providing guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures; distributing and balancing workload; orienting and providing on-the-job training for new and current employees; and ensuring all training requirements are met in addition to organizing the work structure of his/her assigned areas. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: 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 West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Thomas Ellis
• Phone: 713-791-1414 X141007
• Email: [email protected]