Clarification from the agency

Open to all US Citizens. NOTE: Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. 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 Lead Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist position is in the Diagnostic Imaging Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the Jamaica Plain, MA location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week. The Lead Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist position coordinates the day-to-day operations of Diagnostic General Radiology section at the Jamaica Plain campus. Will work under the supervision of the Supervisory Radiology Technologist (Assistant Chief Technologist). Functions 100% of the time as Lead to a group of DRTs who staff the following areas: Fluoroscopy, Operating Room, Emergency and Main department X-ray.. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Establish and implement protocols required to perform procedures in all modalities done in the radiology department.
• Coordinate administration of contrast material for radiology exams performed under the direction of the radiologist according to protocols.
• Provide orientation and training to employees in all sections of the radiology department.
• Continuously monitor and improve procedures in the radiology department. Coordinating quality improvement activities within the imaging section. Recommends area for review and improvement. Collects data and submits in final form to the supervisor.
• Practice hospital safety, radiation safety, infection control and universal precautions always within age and/or gender specific guidelines. Manage the scheduling of Intermittent technologists to ensure departments are appropriately staffed.
• Ability to resolve informal employee complaints and demonstrate effective conflict resolution amongst co-workers.
• Runs daily general radiology pending, past scheduled and hold list, ensuring that orders are handled appropriately.
• Performs daily tier one huddles in the department and through teams to address safety concerns, equipment issues and informational updates.
• Attends weekly supervisor/lead huddles, bringing any pertinent topics for discussion.
• Responsible for timecards. Ensuring that time requests and premium pay requests are submitted in a timely manner.
• Review and address problem case log.
• Provides patient care, able to transfer patients to radiographic table and able to prepare oral and injectable contrast as needed.
• Orients radiography students, constructs training schedules and works closely with students to provide honest feedback and reviews. Maintains students' paperwork.
• Works with the logistics department regarding the ordering of radiology supplies.

Work Schedule: Full-time Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized
Telework: Not authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: F08053
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact Chapman karen.chapman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
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).

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Notifications:

• This position is in an AFGE Bargaining Unit.
• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• This position is on a special salary rate.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. No award SF50's will be accepted.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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.
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT) (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or Mammography (M) duties performed independently, as applicable. Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent can operate independently and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination. In modalities that require advanced certification, to support their continued development, technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist.
• Education: Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from [other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE). NOTE: Assignment to the clinical program director requires meeting JRCERT minimum educational standards as noted in the assignment description.]
• English Language Proficiency: DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• GS 9 Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 8), directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and carry out their assigned tasks independently. DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex imaging procedures beyond the full performance level, clinical instruction, and basic QM type duties within the program.
• Assignment: Functions as a lead DRT for a group of DRTs at the full performance level and below, providing input on performance, resolving daily workplace issues, and maintaining efficient workflow. Provides a full range of general radiologic imaging exams, has a general knowledge of the different modalities within the diagnostic radiologic area, and is accountable to the next higher-level supervisor.

The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:

• Ability to provide technical oversight and assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload utilizing the personnel to the greatest advantage thus providing the optimal level of patient care within the workday.
• Ability to plan, direct, and distribute work assignments to DRTs at lower grade levels.
• Skill in instructing and training DRTs on newly acquired equipment.
• Ability to plan and project staffing needs.
• Skill to independently perform general and specialized diagnostic radiologic procedures in advanced levels of complex treatment situations.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Light to Moderate lifting and carrying, up to 44 lbs. Limited to 35lbs. with straight pulling; pushing; reaching at and above shoulders; use of both hands and fingers required; walking and/or standing (6- 8hours); crawling; kneeling; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

Physical Environment: Standard: The size and layout of the facility must be adequate to allow for patient comfort, privacy and special needs as well as fostering appropriate workflow. This includes areas for imaging exams, control rooms, processing, image interpretation, patient changing, recovery/post-procedural care, waiting, administration, storage, record filing, medical physics services, engineering services, and staff. Hospital Care setting.

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.