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 include but not limited to:

Supervisory MLTs perform the full range of supervisory duties for the laboratory including assigning work; completing performance evaluations; recommending appointment, awards, advancement and disciplinary actions; and identifying continuing education and training needs. Supervisory MLTs supervise other technicians, laboratory assistants, phlebotomists and/or other appropriate personnel. Supervisory MLTs ensure compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements; participate in the preparation necessary for regulatory inspections; and establish and monitor the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program. They also initiate corrective action. Supervisory MLTs develop policies and procedures; manage document control; and develop performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements. They provide professional and administrative management of an assigned area, which includes orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff. Supervisory MLTs maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

• The incumbent performs Venipuncture using specialized techniques for cleansing the blood collection site to prevent bacterial contamination that's critical to patient care, to ensure the contamination rate of blood cultures remains within National guidelines for blood culture contamination rates reported to Central Office.
• Collect specimens for testing to include verification of proper requisition completion, selection of correct tubes, labeling, packaging, and preparation of kit for transport.
• Ensures proper processing and accession of specimens; especially those requiring special handling, and clearly communicates requirements to the laboratory staff.
• Organizes work to ensure optimal patient flow. Keeps all work areas, carts, and storage area clean, well-stocked and organized with supplies. Rotate supplies as needed; remove expired supplies.
• Schedule, collect and process Employee Drug Screens.
• Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technician occupation. In addition, performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles. Recognizes and communicates pre-defined critical results affecting patient care.
• Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimens if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained.
• Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections.
• Performs quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports.
• Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, and maintains instruments. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications etc.) to verify results.

Work Schedule: Day Shift with Rotating Weekends and Holidays
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 Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
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 identification 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

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: MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations.
  • American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
    • ASCP, Board of Certification. OR
    • ASCP, Board of Registry.
  • American Medical Technologists. OR
  • American Association of Bioanalysts.
• Foreign Education: Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification as described.

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: Supervisory Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-08.

• Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • i Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to effectively communicate with employees and customers.
  • ii Ability to develop training plans and coordinate staff development.
  • iii Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions.
  • iv Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.

Quality of Experience: Experience is creditable if it is directly related to MLT duties equal to or exceeding professional MLT experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

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-8.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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.