Clarification from the agency

Open to All U.S. citizens. Veterans Preference will be applied. This is an Open Continuous Announcement. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 25, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks until position has been filled.

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The histopathology technician is responsible for setting up and maintaining the Mohs laboratory and performing all essential tasks per accrediting agency guidelines. The technician is responsible for advanced Anatomic Pathology laboratory testing to include, but not limited to, gross dissection and interoperative frozen section preparation as dictated by Pathology laboratory needs. The histopathology technician is responsible for Mohs laboratory maintenance and quality assurance documentation and will assist the Pathology Quality Manager with quality monitors related to the Mohs and/or Anatomic Pathology laboratory.

FUNCTIONS
The duties of Histopathology Technician include but are not limited to the following:

1. Responsible for operation of the Mohs laboratory with oversight of the Chief of Pathology & Laboratory Management Services (P&LMS), the Mohs surgeon(s), Dermatology Section Chief, and the Laboratory Manager and the Anatomic Pathology Supervisor. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring all P&LMS related accreditation standards are met within the Dermatology Mohs laboratory. This includes equipment procurement, equipment maintenance, quality assurance, quality control, all phases of specimen and results handling (pre-analytic, analytic, post-analytic), creation of procedures, maintaining inventory of consumables, validations, maintenance of document control and other duties as assigned necessary for safe, complaint functioning of the Mohs laboratory.
2. Assist with Mohs surgery in the dermatology clinic. Embed tissue with precise orientation, cryostat sectioning and staining of all types of Mohs specimens under the direction of the Mohs surgeon(s).
3. Receive all requests and specimens for testing into the Mohs laboratory. Verify the accuracy and completeness of the request, proper sample collection, and labeling. Ensure use of the required patient identifiers on each sample. Evaluate, accept, or reject specimens using proficiency in identifying unusual tissue conditions and discrepancies which may cause erroneous results or require special handling. Make sound decisions independently and take appropriate action to correct and resolve problems. Interact with supervisor and hospital personnel to correct discrepancies.
4. Accession and label Mohs specimens, cassettes, and slides using proper laboratory procedures.
5. Maintain adequate stock of supplies and reagents to cover normal and peak workloads in the Mohs laboratory. Perform inventory, request ordering of critical supplies, and ensure receipt of correct products and interact with assigned purchasing clerk to rectify incorrect orders.
6. Perform required start up verifications/validations on new testing/equipment in Mohs laboratory. Verify correct instrument operations using established procedures and quality controlled checks. Identify cause of common problems and make simple repairs. Ensure preventative maintenance is completed on schedule.
7. Work with vendors to arrange installation and training on new systems utilized in the Mohs laboratory.
8. Analyze emerging trends in technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing in the Mohs laboratory.
9. Assist with frozen section procedures. Prepare quality frozen sections per accrediting agency guidelines to provide rapid diagnosis in surgical cases (intraoperative consultation). Orient, cut, and stain specimens submitted for intraoperative consultations, including minute biopsies of rapid diagnosis by the pathologist with no margin for error.
10. Identify suboptimal testing in Mohs and/or frozen section procedures and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate impact on patient samples
11. Systematically examine, describe, gross surgical specimens that have been approved by the chief of pathology or Mohs surgeon for autonomous handling by the technician. Responsible for noting size, color, anatomical orientation, and overall consistency noting any grossly identifiable abnormalities assisting in microscopic diagnosis
(grossing/dissection).
12. Other duties as assigned and/or outlined in Functional Statement

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday from 8:00am until 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 70934-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• Experience: One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician.

OR,

• Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry; or Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology.

OR,

• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below: Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field. Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or 3 histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

All Histopathology Technicians employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: Histopathology Technician, GS-7 (Advanced)

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.

• Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.
• Ability to provide technical oversight of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement exhibiting competence in managing reagent and supply inventories and document control systems.
• Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting.
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems.

Preferred Experience: Experience as a Mohs histotechnologist. Experience preferred with managing CLIA and CAP certification

Assignment. Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight, and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently. The incumbent will have the responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures. The technician will be responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to travel to treatment areas with ease while pushing an machine. The incumbent must be able to stand for up to 8-10 hours while providing patient care. The incumbent must be able to lift up to 20 pounds of equipment, supplies and records. The incumbent must be able to manipulate the probes during the procedure, pushing against the patient's chest to obtain the appropriate images. Additionally, the incumbent will be required to transport patients on stretchers, beds and wheelchairs. There is the potential for extended periods of sitting at computer terminals. The incumbent is expected to use proper preventive ergonomic techniques to perform duties.

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, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.