Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) .

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The supervisor performs the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the anatomic pathology laboratory, including responsibility for assignment of work performed; performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions; identification of continuing education and training needs; and resolving interpersonal issues.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of the preanalytical processes, as part of the overall laboratory quality management program, and initiates corrective action.
• Responsible for contracting and fiscal matters, including budget execution, sets short-term and/or long-term goals, develops policies and procedures, manages document control, and develops performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements.
• Requires minimal supervision, performing tasks independently with minimal routine oversight.
• Plans and carries out the procedures necessary to complete the work assignment and handles problems and corrects errors in accordance with established protocols or accepted laboratory practices.
• Reviews the work reports for technical soundness and conformity to policy and established requirements and in conjunction with the Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services outlines assignment parameters, deadlines, prioritizes and provides guidance in unusual circumstances.
• Continual communications and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all medical center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting the medical center and service missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.
• Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy
  Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal regulations, VA statuses and policy, and VHA policy.
• Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc.
• Fosters a high profile of the VA Occupational Safety and Health Program by assuring employee awareness of potential safety hazards, promptly reporting all injuries and ensures supervisors are effective in corrective actions necessary to eliminate safety and health hazards in the work area.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 0700-1530
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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)
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 Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 09232F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

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

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a United States citizen. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C.§ 7407(a).
• English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in
  spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Experience. Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws, regulations, and accrediting/regulatory
  requirements in order to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory.
  (b) Skill in communicating with individuals, in order to obtain the desired effect,
  ensuring compliance with established policies, regulations, and procedures.
  (c) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility
  for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff,
  recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
  (d) Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient
  to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program, and/or
  education and training of the laboratory staff.
  (e) Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills including skill in interpersonal
  relations and conflict resolution in order to deal with employees, team leaders, and
  managers.
  (f) Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long-term goals, and conduct studies on
  technical and administrative problems, including fiscal matters, budget execution,
  personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.
• Education. Individuals must meet one of the requirements below:
  (1) Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist, such as, but not limited to clinical biology, microbiology,
  physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology,
  anatomy;
  OR,
  (2) Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a
  combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must
  include credit hours in both);
  OR,
  (3) Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education,
  leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, with a major study in an
  academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position
  of histopathology technologist, such as clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, premedical,
  medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials,
  and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
• Certification.
  (1) Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification. The ASCP requires completion of one of the
  following for a candidate to be considered "board eligible" to take the certification
  exam:
  (a) Successful completion of a histotechician or histotechnology program accredited
  by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS);
  OR,
  (b) One year of full time experience in all of the following: fixation, embedding,
  microtomy, processing, and staining in a histopathology (clinical, veterinary,
  industry, or research) laboratory.
• Grandfathering Provision. All histopathology technologists employed in VHA in this
  occupational series or in another occupational series, who perform the duties as
  described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard,
  are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including
  positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the
  occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard,
  but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed
  to the position, the following provisions apply:
  (1) Histopathology technologists who do not meet the basic requirements for education
• and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full
  performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted
  beyond the full performance level or placed in a supervisory or managerial position.
  (2) Histopathology technologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the
  effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment
  extended or receive a new appointment on a temporary or permanent basis, until they
  fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  (3) Histopathology technologists initially grandfathered into this occupation, who
  subsequently obtain education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements
  of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of
  employment in the occupation.
  (4) If histopathology technologists, who are grandfathered under this provision, leave the
  occupation then those employees lose grandfathered protected status and must meet
  the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the
  histopathology technologist occupation in this series.

Preferred Experience: Knowledge of regulations, and accrediting/regulatory requirements in order to develop plans and procedures for the AP laboratory. Preferrable experience, highly recommend: at least 3 years of supervisory experience.

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-12.

Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.