Summary 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. Program 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. Responsibilities The position of Supervisory Medical Technologist is established to provide expert professional and scientific leadership in a laboratory section, to ensure continuity of coverage in the section, and to maintain effective and efficient management of available resources (both human resources and financial resources) in the section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Responsible for the quality control program for the Section, investigates complaints from the hospital staff, and investigates and responds to Patient Safety reports (JPSRs) within 48 hours. Promptly Informs the Chief, P&LMS and the Laboratory Manager of issues that impact or delay patient care. Maintains a state of ongoing readiness for all regulatory inspections. Ensures all standards of applicable regulatory entities are always practiced and ensures the section will qualify for accreditation by College of American Pathologists (CAP), The Joint Commission (TJC), VA National Compliance Office, and all other applicable regulatory agencies. Identifies opportunities for improvement and designs and participates in Section Performance Improvement projects. Conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area. Ensures activities associated with process improvement, customer service, data driven decision making, or team driven change are accomplished. Manages routine personnel matters related to the section, such as performance appraisals and awards, evaluations, guidance, counseling, disciplinary actions, and recruitment. The supervisor also participates in succession planning and reviews human resource utilization. Trains technicians/technologists as well as non-laboratory personnel in the use of new procedures and instrumentation in the Section and throughout the SLVHCS system. Ensures that a sufficient level of inventory (par level) for necessary reagents and materials is maintained. Surveys and rotates stock to ensure time sensitive reagents and supplies do not expire. Maintains a current inventory of equipment and government property within the section and ensures that the electronic inventory (EIL) is updated whenever any property is acquired, removed, disposed, or transferred. The incumbent reports to the Laboratory Manager and is accountable to the Chief of Pathology. The incumbent works independently; supervision is mainly advisory in nature. The incumbent is responsible for informing the Chief, P&LMS or the Laboratory Manager of major problems and decisions in any laboratory area. Participates in the Transfusion Utilization Committee and is recognized as an expert in the field. Coordinates testing for any referral testing performed by SLVHCS for outside facilities. Serves as the Unit's Safety Officer if one is not appointed. Serves as a subject matter expert for all reference (send-out) testing. Serves as the Subject Matter Expert of a 24/7 Laboratory Section and is available to employees during off-tour hours to answer questions and address issues including instrument function, maintenance, testing, other scientific questions, or staffing issues. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact christopher.billiot@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 629-01058-F 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical Evaluation. 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 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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Education and/or Experience Combination -You must possess 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 You must possess 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 have 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 You must possess 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 have 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. Certification - You must possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates GS-12 Experience Requirement: Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Your experience must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: a. 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. b. 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. c. 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. d. Ability to analyze organizational, technical and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient overall laboratory operation. e. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders and managers. f. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget. g. 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, et Preferred Experience: The ideal candidate would have MT\MLS(ASCP) certification with an advanced specialist certification in Blood Banking, BB(ASCP), at least five years' experience working in a clinical hospital-based blood bank, and general expertise in all aspects of blood banking. The ideal candidate would also have at least two years' experience working in or overseeing a send out section of a clinical laboratory. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see "Duties" section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Testing for Colorblindness is required. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. 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/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 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. 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.