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. Learn more This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2022. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 04/15/2022, with subsequent cut-off dates about every 2 weeks. 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. 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 (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. 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: 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. A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e.g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). 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: GS-12 Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), which is directly related to the position to be filled. Supervisory Technologist. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility in a complexity index group 1 laboratory or in a complexity index group 2 laboratory that performs at least 1 million Standard Billable Tests annually (reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program). The incumbent supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory personnel including at least one GS-11 subordinate. Recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, provides advice and counsel and evaluates work of subordinates. The supervisor is responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance and irritate corrective action. Verifies orientation, training and competency assessment of assigned staff. Develops and updates technical policies and procedure manuals. Ensures all staff and affiliate staff are in compliance with accrediting and regulating bodies. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level. This individual manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements, and is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution. The supervisor will maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. 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. 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. Ability to analyze organizational, technical and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient overall laboratory operation. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders and managers. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget. 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, etc. References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II Appendix G24 Physical Requirements: . See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The incumbent at this level has full supervisory responsibility for a large staff of nonsupervisory personnel, which includes GS6, GS-7, GS- II technical & administrative staff, Health Technicians & medical technologist in a laboratory system. Shall be directly responsible for the education coordinator GS-11 & the GS-6 Health techs. Recommends appointment, plans & assigns work, provides advice & counsel & evaluates work of subordinates. Responsible for monitoring test analyses & specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance Assures corrective action is initiated. Assures orientation, training & competency assessment of assigned staff is performed & is a backup to the education coordinator. Develops & updates technical policies & procedure manuals. Ensures all staff & affiliate staff is in compliance with accrediting & regulating bodies. Manages document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions & functional statements, & is responsible for professional & administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution. Maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Performs as a team leader for the Laboratory technical staff, coordinating duties assigned to lab staff members. Provides guidance & technical direction to staff members as well as interprets policies & procedures when circumstances arise. Oversees all aspects of referred testing & the entry of those results for Laboratory. Maintains competency in Generalist Technologist duties, filling-in when staffing shortages arise, & applies this knowledge in solving very complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. Supervisor Duties Develops position descriptions, functional statements & performance standards for the above personnel, & conducts the annual performance rating of those staff. Serves as the rater of performance plans/& or annual performance appraisals for these staff members. Gives advice, counsel & instructions to lab staff on both work & administrative matters. Advises the Chief of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service on problems that affect other service & the impact it may have on them. Interviews candidates for positions in P&LMS & selects for appointments. Assures that all new personnel receive both hospital & laboratory orientation. Recommends awards or bonuses for supervised staff & changes in position classification, subject to approval by the Chief, P&LMS. Manages currency of staff Functional Statements. Counsels & resolves complaints from employees, individuals or groups. Reviews any serious disciplinary cases of employees & recommends action on the more serious cases. Participates in resolution of Union & EEO complaints within Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. Assures that all laboratory personnel demonstrate understanding of policies & procedures for handling & reporting of workplace violence. Ensures training needs of employees such as orientation training for all lab employees & competency re-training or training. Oversees Lab Education Coordinator & recommends education training modules & assure that laboratory staff complete the required hours require by the VA medical Center Schedule & facilitates monthly meetings for the above staff to encourage communication & coordination with the service. Approves/disapproves leave for the above staff. Determines staffing needs & projections & prepares staffing request to the appropriate committees. Recommends improvements in the overall efficiency & functioning of P&LMS & identifies ways to improve service delivery. Acts as a consultant to the Chief, P&LMS regarding management decisions that may affect service function. Provides assistance to Education coordinator & the outpatient clinics interacting with Health Technician & nursing staff to ensure that all necessary documentation is available for all pertinent activities. Visits the outpatient clinics periodically to make qualitative evaluations of laboratory services & to determine adequacy of equipment, personnel. Keeps abreast of new technology in instrumentation & justifies expenditures for purchase or lease of major pieces of equipment which can reduce the overall operating costs. Acts as committee representative on the VISN 19 Lab User committee facilitating consolidated instrument & supply selection & procurement of CPRR contracts. Acts as COTR for contracts providing fiscal oversight & feedback to VISN contracting officials when problems arise. Work Schedule: Variable Mon-Friday\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 54729-O\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Martha Kimmel, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]