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. 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. 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 (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) 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 (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Certification: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. English Language Proficiency: Medical technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: GS-11 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. b. 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. c. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. d. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. e. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. (RESUME MUST REFLECT REQUIRED KSAs IN DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES IN ORDER TO BE FOUND QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION) Preferred Experience in molecular or microbiology. References: A Handbook VA 5005, Part II, Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard This position is being announced above the full performance level at the GS-11 level. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2023, or until the vacancy is filled. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 14, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled Incumbent is responsible for the technical oversight of the Molecular section. Incumbent will be responsible for maintaining all Molecular instruments, numerous refrigerators, policy and procedure documentation, creation, and updates with adherence to all current accreditation standards. Incumbent will also monitor inventory and ordering of supplies. Position also includes monitoring of proficiency testing and quality control program, including corrective action as necessary and new method development. This technologist acts as the expert, Molecular section technical advisor for all other technologist staff. Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques. Duties require competency in the areas of Microbiology and Molecular Testing. Performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results. In all areas, technologist prepares reagents, assembles equipment and verifies correct instrument operation. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures. Correlates and integrates information and performs additional testing to confirm abnormal results. Judges the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of preanalytic sample requirements. Processes specimens and selects appropriate procedures based on knowledge of the specimens, patient information and resources available in the laboratory. Controls physical conditions and responds to time factors to insure that the physiological state of the specimen is maintained. Attentively accessions and labels samples and subsamples, records data accurately in logs and worksheets with extreme attention to ID verification and accurate manual recording. Demonstrates thorough understanding and adherence to all safety requirements as per regulatory laws such as used in phlebotomy, proper handling of blood and body fluids, hazardous medical waste, safe chemical handling practices, etc. Work Schedule: 8:00AM-4:30PM, Monday-Friday (with rotating weekends) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 436-50578-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Leon.Lee@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes! This position is located within Surgical Services at the CAPT James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, IL. The FHCC is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and Department of Navy (DoN)/Department of Defense (DoD). It is larger than just a single facility, but rather it is a fully-integrated medical care facility with a single combined VA and Navy mission. The combined mission of the FHCC means active duty military and their family members, military retirees, and eligible veterans receive health care at this facility.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Join the FHCC team of energetic, career-minded professionals! For additional information, click onhttp://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/index.asp.