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.

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:

• 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. §
• 7403 (f) Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program
• OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination
• NOTE: Possession of a certification identified below automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
• (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT
• NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held
• Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer)
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• 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 above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements
• GS-12 Clinicla Laboratory Scientist Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Technical Specialist), GS-12
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) Knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medico-legal requirements, and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests
• (B) Knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired clinical laboratory scientists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of laboratory procedures
• (C) Knowledge of one or more advanced clinical laboratory functions
• (D) Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations
• (E) Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of a clinical laboratory
• (F) Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to accomplish the work of the specific laboratory section
• Preferred Experience: At least 5 years experience as a clinical laboratory scientist, with no less then three years of progressively increasing responsibility in blood bank and transfusion medicine
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf As the Technical Specialist for Transfusion Service at the Stratton VAMC is responsible for all aspects of operation in the transfusion medicine area of the laboratory including procedures, regulatory requirements, workflow, contract officer representative and instruments needs and requirements
• The incumbent facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals, needs and achievements are coordinated with management
• The incumbent acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty
• - The incumbent serves as a clinical laboratory scientist with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of Specimen Collection, Hematology/Coagulation, Urinalysis, Immunohematology
• In addition to these duties, the incumbent has advanced knowledge of the specialized and complex subject matter beyond the duties of test performance
• - The incumbent is familiar with safety procedures in these departments and able to perform required safety responsibilities
• He/She also works off-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need
• - The incumbent has knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties in areas of the laboratory, and a high level of skill in applying this knowledge in solving very complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice
• - He/she is familiar with regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements, and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations sufficient to use in planning, implementing, or monitoring laboratory programs and services
• - The incumbent has management, administrative, and professional knowledge sufficient to effectively oversee and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section
• He/she has knowledge of laboratory instrumentation, and the ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation
• - The incumbent provides technical oversight and assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload PLMS Department, Albany Stratton VAMC
• Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm, rotating weekends and holidays
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 11815-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized