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The major duties include but are not limited to:

• Follows procedures for patient identification, sample procurement, and specimen labeling;
• Performs venipuncture specimen collections from patients;
• Performs special drawing procedures, to include collecting timed specimens, assisting in bone marrow collections, and performing phlebotomy in negative pressure rooms while properly dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) gear as required;
• Controls the physical condition of samples and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained;
• Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques;
• Prepares samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting, and aliquoting, etc.;
• Maintains adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures;
• Answers incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel;
• Functions as a resource person and troubleshooter for clinic personnel in executing order entry options and collection requirements;
• Identifies and appropriately responds to adverse reactions such as fainting, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and arrests;
• Maintains the laboratory facilities and equipment;
• Performs preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers;
• Assists in teaching laboratory and medical center personnel theoretical and practical aspects of phlebotomy, specimen collection and processing, specimen requirements for acceptance or rejection;
• Trains new laboratory staff on how to perform testing, quality control, maintenance, and proficiency requirements;
• Responds to staffing shortages as assigned, traveling to assigned locations; and,
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

NOTE: Basic Life Support training is required for this position and will be provided and must be completed within six (6) months after start of employment and must be kept current thereafter.

Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday to Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm includes rotating weekends and holidays.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician - Mobile - Phlebotomy/PD02523-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
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
• 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period or 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 by the closing date of this announcement, 06/26/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.


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

Individual Occupational Requirements:

• Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings OR
• Technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled.

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements, you must meet the Specialized Experience.

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of clinical chemistry, hematology, clinical laboratory science methodologies, and equipment function. This position entails a high degree of specialization in laboratory science, phlebotomy, and shipping.
• Knowledge of the handling of hazardous materials for state and intra state transportation of biohazard materials.
• Knowledge of health and safety guidelines as specified by the College of American Pathologists; Occupational Health and Safety Administration and HAZMAT.
• Knowledge of and skill in training new employees in proper phlebotomy procedures.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Analytical Reasoning
• Clerical
• Diagnostic Medical Testing
• Technical Competence

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work of the position requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, lifting (less than 40 pounds), walking, stooping, and stretching. The work is performed in an adequately heated, lighted, and ventilated clinical laboratory at the Laboratory and/or at another Community Based Outpatient Clinic site. The work involves regular and recurring risks or discomforts associated with working in a clinical laboratory, e.g., working with infectious substances, contagious diseases, and chemical agents. The person in the position wears protective clothing such as lab coats, gloves, and goggles.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.