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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This position represents above full performance level for MIT (Vascular). At this level, the technologist is required to perform a full range of procedures that include special complicated examinations for which there are no standard instructions or procedures. They perform independent portable tech examinations in the ICU, ED, Surgery, and throughout the medical center when required. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. They also work independently on evening, night, and weekend tours of duty as scheduled and/or when providing on call coverage.

-Assists quality assurance technologists in performing quality assurance testing on the ultrasound equipment using phantoms, test tools, test check lists, etc. for the purpose of assuring peak performance of the ultrasound equipment. Maintains records of the quality assurance testing so that easy reference is available should servicing be needed.

Gathers related information prior to exam such as prior reports, images, patient history, etc. so that correlation of examinations to other studies may be made by the interpreting physician in diagnosis and recommendation of treatment for medical disorders. Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and rearranges priorities to accommodate.

Advises interpreting physicians or referring physician of significant abnormalities that would require their immediate attention and visualization while the patient is undergoing examination.

Assists the interpreting physician in the performance of ultrasound-guided vascular access procedures, aspiration procedures, catheter/line placement, radiofrequency and cryo-ablation procedures, venous ablation procedures, pseudoaneurysm thrombosis procedures and other procedures as indicated by patient care needs. These procedures require the use of surgical sterile technique, syringes, needles, contrast, etc.

Participates in the training of physicians, residents, and radiology technologists so these individuals may acquire an understanding of the principles of ultrasound and how it relates to other diagnostic exams. Incumbent will train, monitor, and report the progress of and assist lower grade or newly recruited technologists as requested.

Performs ultrasound examinations of the abdomen, neck, chest, extremities, and retroperitoneal space for the purpose of acquiring high quality examinations that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patient medical disorders. Performs scans of the carotid arteries, arterial and venous studies of the upper and lower extremities, and ABIs. Also performs evaluation studies of pseudoaneurysms, stents, and fistulas. Performs doppler exams of intraabdominal vessels, including evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Locates, identifies, and determines
compositions of cold nodules, differentiate benign renal cysts from malignant neoplasm, evaluates renal disease, liver abnormalities, pancreatic masses when identified incidentally on vascular exams.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Hours to be discussed during interview process
Compressed/Flexible:Not available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular)
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• Licensure or Certification: Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable.
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)

GS-9 Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-8), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fully perform all vascular ultrasound tests and examinations and to function as a technical director of the vascular laboratory and provide oversight and/or guidance to other technicians.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the GS-8 level. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

1. Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation.
2. Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts.
3. Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations.
4. Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume.
5. Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level, positions at this grade may be lead, supervisory, or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments. The candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*)

1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to vascular ultrasonography.
2. *Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
4. *Ability to manage and supervise employees.
5. *Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training

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).

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of focused vascular diagnostic laboratory experience.
• Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT)

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-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9

Physical Requirements: Position requires lifting (assist patients from lying position to sitting and vice versa) with varying degrees of assistance; working with 200+ lbs., carrying 45 lbs. and over; sitting/standing/walking/kneeling/bending/twisting/pulling/simple grasping/fine manipulation of keyboard and computer components, and reaching above shoulder/operating equipment. Use of hospital-based solvents. All requires 2-6 hours daily, includes repetitive motion during scanning.

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.