The incumbent serves as a Medical Technologist, performing the full range of duties in the Microbiology and Serology Departments of the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. This is considered the full performance level for non-supervisory positions. An 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 incumbent out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory, including routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting.
The incumbent will be perform the following duties:

• Carries out the day-to day operations in the laboratory, including routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting.
• Develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results ensuring all laboratory regulatory requirements are met.
• Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques, following practices and regulations governing biosafety and biochemistry in the workplace.
• Requires a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision.
• Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction, locates and implements corrections.
• Correlates data and reports results to appropriate individuals.
• Calibrates, standardizes, adjust and maintains instruments.
• Verifies correct instrument operation using protocols and quality control checks.
• Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents and products.
• Maintains proper records for quality control and quality assurance reports.
• Medical Technologist will be called upon to perform phlebotomy on an as needed basis.
• Medical Technologists will keep up-to-date- on all accrediting/regulatory agency requirements from the following agencies: The College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission Accreditation of Hospital Organization (JCAHO), The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Work Schedule: (2) Full time Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with rotation every other weekend (Saturday and Sunday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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 a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• 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, 05/31/2019.
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.
• Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

Preferred Experience: Along with certification, preferred candidates should have at least one year working as a Medical Technologist.

Education and/or Experience Combination:
1) 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.(COPY TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
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,
(2) 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 (COPY TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)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), 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
(3) 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, (COPY TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
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.
Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below:(1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (COPY CERTIFICATION REQUIRED)

(2) 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).Loss of Credential. Once certified, MTs must maintain their certification.
Loss of certification will result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations:
GS-7 (Entry Level)
Experience: None beyond the Basic Requirements. Employees at this level serve in an entry level Medical Technologist career development position practicing under close supervision of an Medical Technologist at or above the full performance level.

GS-9 (Full Performance Level)
GS:09 Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled
OR,
Education: Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. (COPY TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
KSA1. Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
KSA 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.
KSA3. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation.
KSA4. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.
KSA5. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
KSA6. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions.
KSA7. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes.
KSA8. 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.

References: VA DIRECTIVE 5005, VA HANDBOOK 5005/72, PART II, APPENDIX G24, VA Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09.

Physical Requirements: Medical Technologist Functional Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 lbs; intermittent reaching above shoulder; use of fingers on both hands; walking up to 4 hours; standing up to 5 hours; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; ability to distinguish colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to work around solvents (lab chemicals), ability to work with hands in water; ability to work around machinery with moving parts.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will recommend grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

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.