Summary This Lead Medical Technician is within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System located in Dothan, Alabama. The primary purpose of this position is to lead the work of other medical technicians performing blood collection procedures by venipuncture techniques. Responsibilities ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** **NOTE: The closing date has been extended until 10/28/2024. Applicants that already applied do not need to re-apply but may update their application materials up until the new closing date.** Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Providing on the job training to new employees/students in all aspects of phlebotomy and screening procedures in accordance with established procedures and practices. Distributing and balancing the workload among employees and assuring timely accomplishment of the assigned workload. Instructing employees in specific tasks and job techniques. Maintaining a current knowledge and answering questions of other employees on procedures, policies, directives, etc. Performing standardized phlebotomy procedures, proper collection, handling and specimen storage. Following medical laboratory principles to perform emergency screening procedures and specimen collection. Preparing samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting, aliquoting, etc. Utilizing specimen safety precautions when dealing with patients with communicable disease. Evaluating the suitability of specimens. Identifying and documenting unusual test results or discrepancies/conditions that can lead to erroneous results. Correlating quantitative data with patient data to verify results. Performing additional tests to clarify or confirm results. Maintaining operational and quality control logs, records, and worksheets Performing clerical duties in support of a medical laboratory. Communicating testing issues with patient care teams. Communicating with, and treating customers in a courteous, tactful, and prompt manner. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm. May be required to work at Ft. Novosel lab location. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-06 LEVEL, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. ~AND~ SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Applicant must have phlebotomy experience in a clinical setting. ~AND~ SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in Federal Service that has given you the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a Lead Medical Technician GS-06. Specialized experience includes providing on the job training to employees in all aspects of phlebotomy; distributing and balancing workload among employees and assuring timely accomplishment of workload; instructing employees in specific tasks and job techniques; performing technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one-half year of graduate level education (9 semester hours above a bachelor's degree) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the position such as chemistry, biological sciences, hematology, microbiology, serology, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Medical Technician position such as chemistry, biological sciences, hematology, microbiology, serology, etc. and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Analytical Reasoning Clerical Diagnostic Medical Testing Leadership Specimen Collection IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: The work will typically require a considerable amount of walking to and from the buildings of the medical center, including buildings on the outer perimeter of the medical center grounds, sometimes during inclement weather. The work also requires regular and recurrent standing to process samples and includes prolonged walking, reaching, bending and kneeling to obtain supplies and maintain lab equipment. The work involves regular and recurrent exposure to moderate risks or discomforts, which require special safety precautions. Occasionally lifts weights up to 75 pounds. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.