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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The ATC consults with program managers or equivalent of clinical services to identify ancillary testing needs and to analyze emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods, serving as a recognized technical expert to provide authoritative advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment and ancillary testing program consultation. Duties will include:

• Serves as technical advisor for quality control, records control, proficiency testing, inspection, and accreditation for point of care testing on a Medical Center wide basis and oversees the safe and accurate testing of CBOC patients.
• Coordinates with the Laboratory Manager in the identification of the type and location of all point of care testing sites. Maintains an updated list of bedside testing sites and their designated Nurse Managers within the Medical Center.
• Coordinates with clinical services having point of care (POC) testing sites as to annual estimates on the number of tests, analyzers, and the methods in use.
• Evaluates reagent systems and instrumentation used in the POC testing program with guidance from the Laboratory Manager and Laboratory Director.
• Develops forms for recording patient test results, quality control testing, specimen tracking, instrument problem/replacement, safety monitoring, as needed.
• Develops, modifies, and maintains a Quality Assurance plan for all point of care testing sites as part of a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) effort. Analyzes quality control data looking for shifts and/or trends signaling testing process problems.
• Ensures timely and thorough evaluation of data, ensures discrepancies are identified and attended. Ensures the quality assurance plan is followed. Obtains data with established procedures. Proposes solutions to remedy the deficiencies or presents a plan for validating data or quality control methods. Proposes new quality control practices as appropriate.
• Serves as the primary liaison between the Laboratory and CBOC sites. Provides technical oversite including but not limited to specimen collection, specimen processing and transport, POC testing, result documentation, quality control testing and documentation, and proficiency testing.
• Maintains, develops, implements, and revises policies/procedures for testing methods, test reporting guidelines, specimen collection, method correlation, calibration/linearity, and programs in accordance with regulatory guidelines (VHA, CAP and/or JC).
• Reviews ancillary testing site manuals, data logs and/or computer files for documentation of quality control, maintenance, corrective action, and result reporting to monitor operator/staff compliance with policies and procedures. Notify ancillary testing site liaisons, Nurse Managers, Laboratory Manager, Chief of P&LMS, and the Chief of Staff (as appropriate) of non compliance issues and assist them with corrective actions.
• Trains and authorizes personnel to perform POC testing. Assists Care Lines with annual recertification and identification of additional training needs. Acts as a consultant for POC testing personnel and maintain training records of authorized users. Authorized users are members of nursing staff, physicians, and physician extenders.
• Develops, implements, and maintains the competency program for POC testing. The competency program follows CUA, CAP, and JC regulations. Operator test performance is assessed during initial training, within the first 6 months of authorization (for non waived POC tests), and annually thereafter. Methods of assessment include but are not limited to quality control testing, proficiency testing, direct observation, review of work, and knowledge based tests.
• Coordinates proficiency testing activities for all testing procedures performed at ancillary testing sites in accordance with CAP, JC, VHA and CUA requirements. Monitors testing performance to
  ensure participation and rotation amongst testing staff. Report findings to the respective Care Lines for corrective action, if needed.
• Coordinates CBOC/RHC laboratory supply requests. Maintains appropriate inventory for reagents and controls used with point of care devices.
• Troubleshoots instrument problems and serves as a consultant to POC testing staff for instrument problems. Performs initial instrument checks prior to being placed in service for patient testing.
• Develops, initiates, implements, and maintains environmental education programs. Work involves coordination with the Medical Center Safety Office to ensure the P&LMS safety program follows Medical Center policies, development of safety programs, maintaining records of safety and environmental training, accident reports, chemical inventories, and safety data sheets.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
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.
• 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Transcripts with confer date required with application package.
  • Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
    • Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following:
      • (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency, and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program. OR
      • (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination.
        • NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.
• Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
  • Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
  • Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
  • Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT
    • NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer).
    • Loss of Credential: If an employee fails to maintain the required certification, management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation. This may also result in separation from employment.
    • If a CLS currently has, or ever had, their CLS certification revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status, HR Office staff must appoint them according to the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section B, paragraph 16.

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:
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator), GS-12

Experience. 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices, and methodologies sufficient to perform full oversight and guidance for testing programs outside of the laboratory.
2. Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as related to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement.
3. Knowledge of Federal, state, and VHA laws, regulations, reference standards, and certifying or accrediting agency requirements to carry out work in each ancillary testing site.
4. Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and interconnectivity.
5. Skill in applying new scientific/technological developments and theories to laboratory testing.
6. Ability to evaluate, interpret, and teach others to use quality control procedures and implement corrective actions.

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: light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking and standing (3 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic shades and colors, exposure to electrical energy.

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.