Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties are but not limited to:

• Develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of routine and complex histopathological and cytopathological procedures, quality control and assurance procedures.
• Conducts operational and routine maintenance of instrumentation, troubleshooting, and principles of performance improvement
• Performs specialized techniques for handling cell blocks, frozen sections, bone marrows, autopsies, and fine-needle biopsies.
• Performs preparation of technically adequate slides for surgical, cytology, and autopsy specimens by processing, embedding tissue, cutting, staining (including immunohistochemistry), and coverslipping.
• Conducts oversight of all activities related to the frozen room and autopsy services, as well as oversight of the morgue for adherence to the facility and regulatory safety, quality control, and privacy regulations. Inspects internal autopsy permission forms for completeness and correctness.
• Prepares specimens for gross analysis to include measurements and separation, assists with dissection of tissue as necessary under the direction of the pathologist, utilizes sterile technique during the dissection and sampling of specimen for microbiological cultures; prepares tissues for cryosectioning by embedding in gel medium, mounting on the metal tissue disc, and loading the specimen appropriately into the cryostat; performs cryosectioning of specimens, operates the cryostat machine to slice tissue samples to sections (typically 5 to 10 micrometers in thickness) of sufficient suitability for fixing to slides and staining; fixes tissue cryosections to glass slides and stains using various histologic stains producing slides of sufficient color and quality for examination by pathologists to differentiate cells during microscopic examination.
• Recovers remaining tissue and preserves it with fixative as appropriate. Labels all specimens in accordance with established procedures. Operates the autoclave as necessary to sterilize tubes, vials, and other instrumentation.
• Assists new pathologists, pathology residents, and autopsy assistants in the safe techniques used to perform autopsies by carrying out highly specialized technical procedures to include, but not limited to, removal and dissection of organs, brain, and spinal cord in order to demonstrate the presence or absence of disease and/or atomic variation, collects special studies, and processes specimens for reference laboratory testing; bags and identifies all tissues from autopsies and places into storage; preparing and setting up for brain dissection and gross examination weekly as needed.
• Prepares bodies for viewing by family members and transports body to the chapel for viewing as necessary. Submits necessary information to the VA Program Support Assistant and/or Supervisor for UMC billing purposes and completes monthly VA reports for autopsy and frozen section as required.
• Assists with the preparation, collection, transportation, or ordering of reference laboratory specimens as needed. Assists with identifying unusual conditions and discrepancies that may cause erroneous results.
• Performance of work in the outpatient phlebotomy laboratory and inpatient phlebotomy draws as necessary, and whenever not performing morgue or frozen room duties. This consists of drawing blood from patients for requested laboratory tests, using special drawing techniques, assuring the proper tubes are used, ensuring the correct amount of blood is drawn. Special drawing procedures include, but are not limited to, glucose tolerance testing with glucose tolerance liquid, timed cortisol testing with cortisol injection, preparation of collection site and collection of blood cultures.
• Performs daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly maintenance of morgue, autopsy room, and frozen room as necessary to include, but not limited to, clean and disinfection of work areas as necessary, disposal of tissue as required by laboratory standards, set up or tear down of autopsy room for completion of autopsy when available and when absent, cleaning of the gross area, disinfection of the cryostats at minimum monthly, production and replacement of stains and preservatives as required by laboratory standards, assures all reagents are labeled in accordance to OSHA guidelines.
• Assists in providing education of Medical Laboratory Technician, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Phlebotomy students, as assigned by the supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned by Chief of Staff, Medical Director, or other designee.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 and/or Education:

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
(a) 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
(b) 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 (GS5 level only) for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below:
(a) 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.
(b) 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 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).

Grade Determinations: GS-5 (Entry Level)
Experience and/or Education: None beyond the basic requirements

Grade Determination: GS-6 (Full Performance Level)
(1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5).

OR,

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

(a) Knowledge of professional anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work.
(b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures, principles of performance improvement, reagent management, inventory supply systems, and document control systems.
(c) Knowledge of anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot instrumentation.
(d) Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.
(e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results.

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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-6.

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.