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VA New England Healthcare System is recruiting Medical Technologists to support our Veterans during the COVID-19 crisis. Salary will be determined based on location.
This position will support the Federal Government's response efforts to COVID-19.
Duties include but are not limited to:

• Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results. Interprets results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures;
• Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technologist occupation. In addition, performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles;
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace;
• Incorporates principles of educational methodology in the instruction and training of new employees and students and in the laboratory's service/continuing education program; and
• Develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results ensuring all laboratory regulatory requirements are met.

Note: We accept applications for this occupation on an ongoing basis and qualifications will be reviewed biweekly; qualified applicants will be considered as vacancies become available. Applicants will be referred to selecting official on a continual basis until all vacancies are filled OR until the closing date of this announcement. Applicants need not re-apply once the application is referred to the selecting official.

Not to Exceed Appointments: This job opportunity announcements is for appointments not to exceed one year. Applicants appointed under this job announcement may be terminated sooner based on the needs of the Medical Center.
Work Schedule: The work schedule will be determined based on the needs of the Medical Center.
The New England VA Medical Centers are acute care facility operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week. While most tours of duty are scheduled during the day, the possibility of working evenings, nights and weekends to exist. Additionally positions hired from this job announcement may be Part-time or Full-time based on needs of the facility.
Compressed/Flexible: May be available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technologist/PD000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment Incentives may be authorized for this position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Dual Compensation Waiver: For positions hired from this announcement, the Hiring Officials may request salary offset waiver for the individual selected if that individual is currently receiving an annuity from the federal service. This is eligible for annuitants who have a voluntary/optional retirement (no early outs or buyouts retirements). Any annuitant hired to work in support of COVID-19 is required to sign an Acceptance Statement of Annuitant/Declination of Annuitant Dual Compensation Waiver.
Additional Notes: This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies at a later time and these positions may be converted to permanent at a later time without further competition.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated drug testing is 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

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: Candidates must meet one of the following.
  • 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.
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the following.
  • Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. OR
  • 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). OR
  • 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).
• English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements you must meet the following grade requirements.

GS-09 Medical Technologist

• Experience or Education:
  • Experience: Must have one (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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work;
  • 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;
  • Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation;
  • Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments;
  • Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results;
  • Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions;
  • Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes; and
  • 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 Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24

This vacancy is at the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.

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.