Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. This announcement is Open Continuous. The first application suspense is October 30, 2025 with subsequent applications being reviewed every two (2) weeks thereafter, until vacancy is filled or announcement closing date.

Videos

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Working with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems or satisfy their expectations.
• Operating guidelines to determine technical factors, setting controls, calibrating, and operating equipment and instruments such as occult blood analyzer
• Ensuring proper cleaning and performing minor maintenance/adjustments of laboratory equipment.
• Maintaining records for point of care testing and maintenance of laboratory machines.
• Performing patient care procedures such as collection of lab specimens, applying dressings, adjusting simple supportive equipment, and handling various specimens including venour blood
• Preparing patient for blood or collection according to College of American Pathologists (CAP) and The Joint Commission (TJC) guidelines; follows proper patient preparation and venipuncture while following sterile collection techniques and bandage patient appropriately following collection.
• Accepting patient orders, printing labels, selecting proper tubes and containers, PPE, labeling specimens with all required information.
• Determining correct handling environment for each specimen submitted for referral laboratory testing and performing processing procedures.
• Ensuring fire, safety disaster, and infection control procedures are implemented by staff; utilizing protective and supportive devices which comply with Personal Protective Equipment Infection Control Standards.
• Processing tissue cultures and specimen samples related to pathology testing.
• Preparing specimens to be sent to outside laboratories, including reference and sharing laboratories; assuring the proper specimen was collected, recording in the send-out book, putting specimen in the proper receptacle; packaging specimen to maintain correct temperature during shipping; completing and checking paperwork, and sending specimen to correct laboratory.

Work Schedule: Work schedules vary based on the neeeds of the Pathology and Laboratory Service; all work schedules include rotating weekends and holidays.
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician - Phlebotomist/PD14453-A
Physical Requirements: The work requires much walking through the clinic, with occasional requirements to lift objects, computer work and operating office equipment. The position requires the ability to process written and electronic information. The work requires the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally distressed patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity due to the fine skills of some of the point of care lab testing. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. The incumbent may be required to commute between two outpatient clinics within the workweek,depending on the clinic workload.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• 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.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• 5CFR 330-502 requires a 90-day general restriction on movement applies to the Direct Hire Authority ONLY.
• 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.

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 (OR INSERT "trial period"), your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 has Individual Occupational Requirements that must be met for further consideration:

• Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

*There is no educational substitution or combinination for the Individual Occupational Requirement for GS-0640-06

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement (s), all applicants must have:

• Specialized Experience: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Basic knowledge of anatomy sufficient to assure accurate and appropriate phlebotomy procedures; implementation and monitoring phlebotomy guidelines and policies; laboratory test requests and medical terminology sufficient to ensure appropriate specimen tube selection and proper blood procurement; skill sufficient to process specimens for routine laboratory test procedures skill sufficent to operate laboratory centrifuges; basic clerical procedures to assist with laboratory record keeping and processing of reports; understanding of regulatory agencies requirements to include College of American Pathologists and the Joint Commission; OR,
• Education: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-05 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

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.

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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.