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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

Specimen Collection Duties & Responsibilities:

• Prepares phlebotomy site for proper specimen collection.
• Performs proper specimen collection (tube type/size) is based upon knowledge and standard operating procedures regarding blood specimen types, anticoagulants, transport conditions, test requested, patient criteria (i.e., fasting) and medical staff input.
• Follows universal precautions, and infection control guidelines in the performance of all phlebotomies, to include gloving, disposal of needles and contaminated waste, and patient isolation requirements.
• Labels specimens to indicate exposure to infectious agents.
• Provides detailed instruction to patients for specialized testing requirements including collection procedures for; sputum culture, stool culture, ova/parasite examination, 24-hour urine collection. Performs and documents point-of-care testing (e.g. glucose, INR, etc.).

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Operations:

• Prepares containers for collection, (i.e., measures and adds appropriate amount of acid or other chemical preservative for pre-collection requirements; measures and records total volume on receipt of specimens; and tests and adjusts pH to specified requirements on specimens after receipt).
• Assures specimens are collected in proper tubes, (i.e., correct anticoagulant, no anticoagulant, sterile vs. nonsterile, culturette vs. viral culturette, etc.) and are properly labeled.
• Ensures specimens are properly logged daily into the shipping computer database and stored according to temperature requirements.
• Receives, packages, and ships anatomical pathology and cytology samples to appropriate reference laboratories.
• Receives blood tube specimens for HIV testing using experience, knowledge, and pertinent reference material.
• Prepares HIV samples for shipment and packs batches according to reference laboratory guidelines.

Specimen processing and Shipping Duties:

• Works independently with only the required minimum amount of supervisory oversight.
• Demonstrates proficiency and competency in this area by passing the VA's IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations awareness training program exam with a score of 85% or more.
• Packs, marks, labels, and ships patient sample according to required regulations in a timely manner.

Equipment Maintenance & Supplies Duties:

• Maintains the laboratory facility, equipment, instruments, and supplies: Knows the laboratory's maintenance policies and procedures.
• Maintains the phlebotomy, point-of-care testing, and specimen processing areas as clean and safe environments to work.
• Monitors inventory of supplies, reagents and controls allowing sufficient lead time to obtain additional supplies prior to running out.
• Annotates date received and initials all supplies upon receipt and opening.
• Stores reagents in accordance with manufacturer's directions.
• Ensures all expired reagents/controls are disposed of properly.

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00AM - 4:30PM - Rotating Saturday Shifts
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

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
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristics are basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite for appointments and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: "Having experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients."
PLUS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English to meet the requirements of this position.

In additionto meeting the selective placement factor above, and language proficiency you must also meet one of the following additional experiences and/or education requirements. Select the statement below that best describes your experiences and/or education to meet the specific qualification requirements for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic, and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE GS-6: Successful completion of six (6) months of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, eighteen (18) semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one (1) year of full-time requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
OR
COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GS-6: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements to qualify at the GS-6 level. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Clerical
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Specimen Collection
• Technical Competence

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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.

Physical Requirements: The work involves various physical demands requiring the employee to be versatile in the many functions performed. These include medium work of lifting up to forty (40lbs) pounds and/or carrying objects weighing up to twenty (20lbs) pounds. Responsible for lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects. Require large motor and well as fine motor skills.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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.