Job Board

The incumbent serves as Lead Medical Technologist in the general Chemistry section of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville Campus. P&LMS offers comprehensive and complex laboratory services in an affiliated medical center/healthcare system. CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT EXTENDED TO MAY 31, 2022. 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: 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, 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 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 in a clinical laboratory. 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 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. 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). Required Certification: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.5. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005. 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). This is defined in the "Additional Information" section below. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Lead Medical Technologist Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-09), 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. AND The candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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: Full time Chemistry experience, not just generalist. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard 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 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 4 hours); standing (up to 4 hours); repeated bending (up to 2 hours); intermittent, but possible prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to distinguish basic colors; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted)and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations; ability to wear required to personal protective equipment as required. ["The incumbent serves as Lead Medical Technologist in the general Chemistry section of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville Campus.Duties include, but are not limited to: Plans work to be accomplished, sets short and long-term goals; assigns work based on priorities; instructs employees on work matters. Assists section staff in obtaining continuing education and determining their training needs. Directly responsible for the teaching and training of new personnel or students within the section. Responsible for expedition of emergency and special requests and the quality, quantity and accuracy of tests performed in the section; assures that all specimens are processed and tested in a timely and efficient manner with minimum errors; and reviews test results, determines if additional information is needed for clarification of test results and/or to establish a definitive diagnosis, and consults with physicians on additional tests as necessary. Ensures that significantly abnormal results are brought to a provider's attention t (i.e. critical values). Implements, reviews, and troubleshoots quality control procedures; provides technical guidance to technicians/technologists when quality control or instrument problems occur; and knowledgeably exercises judgment in selecting the most reliable procedures to be followed when presented with specimens submitted under varying conditions. Implements the performance of proficiency survey samples or unknown specimens by technologists in the Section and assists the Supervisory Medical Technologist with corrective actions for out-of-range survey results. In collaboration with the Chemistry Supervisor, oversees implementation of policies and procedures within the Section that comply with the guidelines of appropriate regulatory and accrediting agencies. Works effectively with both laboratory and non-laboratory staff to clearly convey malfunctioning problems to outside service representatives and competently follow instruction for instrument repair. Ensures activities associated with process improvement, customer service, data driven decision making, or team driven change are accomplished. Ensures current mandatory hours of continuing education are completed. Works as a bench Medical Technologist as needed (see Medical Technologist, GS-0644-9 functional statement). Works off-hour shifts, weekends, holidays, and in other sections of the laboratory as priorities shows a need or as directed by P&LMS Management. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm or 6:00 am to 2:30 pm or 11:00 am to 7:30 pm with rotating weekends and holidays\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]