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Histopathology Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Vacancy duties amended to reflect appropriate duties for position.
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. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Come work in the entertainment capital of the world - Las Vegas, Nevada! Whether it be the iconic strip; the exciting nightlife; the world-renowned restaurants; or any of the outdoor adventures, Las Vegas has it. With over three-hundred days of fabulous weather, there is never a reason ore season to stay home!
Since 1972, VA Southern Nevada healthcare System has been improving the health of the men and women who have so proudly served our nation. We consider it our privilege to serve your health care needs in any way we can. Services are available to more than 240,000 veterans living in our catchment area. In addition to our main facility in Las Vegas, we offer services in three community-based outpatient clinics located in Henderson, Pahrump and Laughlin. VA professionals feel good about their career 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 Veteran Affairs, go to http://www/vacareers.va.gov/.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.
This vacancy will be open for 30 days. Candidates will be reviewed as follows:
February 1, 2018
February 6, 2018
February 12, 2018

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/12/2018 to 02/08/2018
Salary
$41,766 to - $54,295 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
North Las Vegas, NV
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Announcement number
CBAQ-10116743-18-MA
Control number
488627900

This job is open to

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Duties

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This position is located organizationally in the Anatomic Pathology Section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service and is under the supervision of the Chief, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. Functionally the incumbent directly supports the Anatomic Pathology and indirectly all staff pathologists, pathology residents and other clinical supervisors within their service with respect to patient specimen processing activities.
* Performs as a technical specialist with extremely difficult, delicate and complex tissue tests of the Surgical Pathology, Frozen Section and Autopsy Services.
* Responsible for the detailed documentation of normal gross pathologic appearance including narrative description of shape, size,weight, color, texture, architecture, nature of lesion(s) in contemporary terminology emphasizing completeness and accuracy.
* Relates gross appearance to microscopic histological analysis in order to determine the appropriate technique for processing.
* Assists pathologists in testing new procedures as they pertain to diagnostic and experimental activity.
* Evaluates and introduces new techniques relevant to specialized diagnostic laboratory pathology.
*Reviews new pertinent medical literature and aids in the preparation of results for publications and presentations at scientific meetings.
* Responds to intra operative consultations requests, performing specialized procedures including frozen tissue sectioning and staining, preparation of cytologic media and handling of specimens for specialized procedures including, flow, cytometry, electron microscopy and cytogentetic studies.
* Responsible for the operation and maintenance of numerous forms of automated and specialized equipment used in the surgical pathology, cytology laboratories and morgue.
Work schedule: 6:00 am to 2:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description Title/PD#: Histopathology Technician/ PD#042990
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Must meet time-in-grade requirement by closing date of annoucement.

Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing while performing gross examinations and teaching other to do so, recurring bending over when performing frozen sections and autopsies, occasional lifting of heavy items (bodies), and above average dexterity in dissecting specimens and cutting frozen sections. Also requires color vision, visual acuity; reaching for items at off levels and items overhead, lifting of five gallons reagent containers and other heavy supplies and equipment. Work requires a high degree of tolerance and the ability to work under stress, wear protective equipment and maintain sanitized equipment and maintain sanitized equipment as part of the safety precautions due to the possibility of working with potential infectious agents.
Word Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposures to irritating and volatile organic solutions, and potentially infectious material. Protective gear and special safety precautions are required. The Pathology Technician uses protective agents such as laboratory coats, gloves, masks, and eye protective devises as necessary.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/08/2018.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Specialized experience includes: Anatomical pathology technician work in (a) cutting and staining very thin sections of human tissue specimens for microscopic examination; and/or in (b) testing and examining body fluids, etc. for abnormalities in cell structure, depending upon the requirements of the position to be filled. NOTE: Evidence of experience, must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Please provide such documentation on your application or resume. Also please provide work experience information such as hours per week and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish one (1) full year of experience. The requirement for this proof is specified in the "How to Apply" section of this announcement.
    OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you mut have completed one year of graduate education with a major study in an academic field directly related to the work of the position being filled . OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate education.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Applies Technology to Tasks
  • Compliance Inspection
  • Technical Competence

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; religions; 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.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position is not authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA offers newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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