This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/475641900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 1993466
Our Mission: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/
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.
If you are a current Department of Veterans Affairs employee, do NOT apply to this announcement. Instead, please apply to the same vacancy that has been announced here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/448384600
NOTICE: Current VA Nationwide employees should apply under announcement #NP-17-CRM-1993470-BU in order to receive consideration as an Internal candidate. Applications received under this announcement will be considered as External candidates.
Learn more about this agency07/31/2017 to 11/06/2017
$65,309 - $84,906 per year
GS 09
2 vacancies in the following location:
Not required
No
Permanent - Excepted Service Permanent
Full-time - Full Time
No
NP-17-CRM-1993466-BU
475641900
Preferred Candidates Will Have: At least one year of experience in a hospital clinical laboratory as a medical technologist.
The incumbent serves as a Medical Technologist in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Fresno VA Central California Healthcare System, CA. The Medical Technologist performs routine and STAT testing on blood, urine and other body fluids. Technical disciplines include: transfusion medicine, clinical chemistry, toxicology, immunology, hematology, urinalysis and microbiology. The laboratory provides diagnostic services in support of inpatient, outpatient and emergency room care 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Assigned duties include but are not limited to:
a. Collects, transports, processes, and evaluates specimen suitability for testing. This function includes receiving, delivering, and storing specimens for all lab sections.
b. Performs manual compatibility testing and issues blood components in the transfusion medicine section; performs clinical chemistry and toxicology testing on automated and semi- automated instruments; performs immunology testing on automated instruments; performs serology testing using manual methods; performs blood cell counting on automated hematology instruments; performs manual microscopic exams of blood cells; performs cell counting and microscopic exams of body fluid specimens using automated manual methods; performs urinalysis using automated and manual methods; performs culture inoculation and staining of specimens including urine, sputum, feces, abscess material, and body fluid specimens; examines bacterial growth for evaluation and identification of microorganisms.
c. Stores and prepares reagents, standards, and calibrators. Maintains, calibrates, cleans, and effects repairs of laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Documents those functions and informs supervisory staff of any problems encountered.
d. Maintains, calibrates, cleans, and effects repairs of laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Documents those functions and informs supervisory staff of any problems encountered.
e. Prepares, tests, records, and interprets quality control materials. Takes corrective action for out of-control results, and immediately notifies supervisory staff of any problems encountered.
f. Tests, verifies, and reports patient test results in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and responds to indications of malfunctions in testing and reporting. Immediately evaluates current test results to available prior test results for acceptability. Reports critical results in accordance with established protocols.
g. Safely operates equipment, maintains a safe and clean work area, properly handles and disposes of biohazardous materials in accordance with established protocols. Complies with all safety rules, uses personal protective equipment per guidelines, and completes all assigned safety training sessions.
h. Utilizes computer systems as needed to perform duties assigned. Complies with all rules to ensure data security and confidentiality of patient records.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States.
English Language: Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Certification: Certification as a Medical Technologist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, or Clinical Laboratory Scientist given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT or meet requirement to obtain certification within 1 year.
Education/Experience: A bachelors 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 bachelors 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 bachelors 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.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met to qualify for the GS-09 grade level:
GS-09 Medical Technologist (Full Performance Level). Experience and/or Education. Completion of 52 weeks (one year) of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-07) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled; OR a Masters degree or two (2) academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. In addition to either experience OR education, the candidate must demonstrate the following professional KSA's:
1. Comprehensive knowledge of professional medical technologist (MT) principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work.
2. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems.
3. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
4. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
5. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
6. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions.
7. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes.
8. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education.
Assignment. This is considered the full performance level for nonsupervisory positions. A MT at this level carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. This would include routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting. The MT develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results ensuring all laboratory regulatory requirements are met. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques, following practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace. These require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision. The work performed is in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, and immunohematology. Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures; collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients; and provide education for laboratory healthcare professionals and the public in a professional, courteous and effective manner.
Grade and Salary: The full performance level for this vacancy is GS-09. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidates education and experience and recommend the grade at which the candidate will be placed. The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate and may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.
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.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72, PART II, APPENDIX G24, dated: May 12, 2014.
APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD-214(s) and documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.
To request a copy of a DD-214, SF-180 or military and medical records, please visit this website: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
Additionally, disabled Veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf) with required proof as stated on the form. If required, include a copy of your Disabled Veteran Civil Service Preference (AB4) letter, which can be generated here: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/
For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist found here: http://www.va.gov/OHRM/joblistings/applicantchecklist.doc or visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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 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 individuals 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: All candidates must have either: (1) Currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT; OR (2) 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).
Exception: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may be given a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed one year as a graduate medical technologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). This appointment may not be extended. For grade levels above the full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 2d(1) above.
Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged standing, bending over microscopes, reaching for supplies or materials and lifting moderately heavy items such as centrifuges and record boxes (or occasionally lifting heavier items such as reagent packs, weighing 50 lbs.). The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as dexterity (to perform intricate collection or analysis procedures) and color vision.
Your application, resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents: You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online or unable to upload your supporting documents to your online application, follow the directions located at the following site: (http://www.va.gov/OHRM/joblistings/FaxOptions.doc). The Vacancy ID of the job opportunity announcement is: 1993466.
Note: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203-FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.
Note: Allow 48 hours after documents have been faxed for the system to update the application status.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Monday, November 06, 2017 to receive consideration.
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to 11:59 PM (EST) on Monday, November 06, 2017.
To verify your application is complete, login to your USAJOBS account at: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, login to your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. During our review, if your resume and application package do not support your questionnaire answers, we will adjust your rating accordingly. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by e-mail (if provided); otherwise, applicants will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your status, click on more information. Information regarding applicant notification points can be found in the USAJobs Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Why_have_I_not_heard_anything_back_after_applying%3F_How_long_does_it_take_to_hear_from_an_agency_after_I_have_applied%3F
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/475641900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED EVERY TWO WEEKS STARTING AUGUST 18TH 2017.