"When I realized all of the opportunities that being a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) provides - the versatility you get with only one degree - I said sign me up! It's a really wonderful career."
The incumbent serves as the Lead Medical Technologist for the Chemistry section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service in Gainesville. The Lead Technologist provides technical oversight of the day-to-day operations of tests performed at the bench, which includes stat and routine Chemistry and Immunoassay testing. This position includes rotating weekends and holidays, and non-administrative tours primarily in the Chemistry section. 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: (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. English Language Proficiency. MT's must be proficient in spoken and written English. Certification. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. Preferred Experience: 2 years of clinical chemistry experience. 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. Candidate must also meet the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. 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. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II Appendix G24 May 12, 2014 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-11. Physical Requirements: This position requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs), standing, and distance vision with the ability to distinguish basic colors and to have hearing (aid permitted). ["Major duties: Responsible for technical oversight of personnel and production for laboratory procedures within the Chemistry section. Assures compliance with quality control and quality assurance policies and procedures, proficiency testing programs and regulatory agencies. Organizes, directs and monitors the workflow in the Chemistry section, overseeing medical technologists at the GS-7/9 and GS-10 level to insure efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of results. Assures proper priorities are set in accordance with the daily needs of the section. Continually reviews the status of work in progress and keeps the supervisor informed of any productivity associated issues. Knowledgeable of safety regulations to ensure safety standards are upheld in the Chemistry section. Performs statistical analysis on quality control and quality assurance data and monitors its accuracy. Ensures the completion of daily, weekly and periodic maintenance required for all Chemistry instruments and performs monthly reviews of temperature charts, preventative maintenance records, and water culture reports. Troubleshoots the most complex analytical issues. Researches, establishes and validates new instruments and test methodologies. Modifies and adapts new procedures in coordination with the supervisor or technical director. Coordinates, compiles and reviews data for multi-division and instrument to instrument correlations, linearity testing and analytical measuring range studies. Annually documents the accuracy of data transmission from instrumentation to the house computer system. Oversees inventory management performed by GS10 employees, to ensure all necessary items are available for the performance of chemistry tests. Provides clinical training and evaluation of medical technology students. Provides technical training to new hires, residents and cross-trains current employees. Maintains current knowledge in the field of medical technology. Serves as resource for technical information within the Chemistry section and other laboratories in the North Florida/South Georgia Health System. Obtains needed information from supervisor when unexpected circumstances occur. Acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the chemistry specialty. Serves as acting supervisor in the absence of the Chemistry Supervisor. Ability to perform all duties of the GS-7/9 and GS-10 medical technologist positions in the Chemistry section to work the bench when required. Work Schedule: 6:30am-03:00pm Monday through Friday with rotating weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
