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Histopathology Technologist (Lab Information Manager)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The Histopathology Technologist (Laboratory Information Manager) oversees all aspects of Laboratory Information service delivery for the VA Northeast Ohio Health Care System Market ensuring that services and technical oversite and delivery are provided efficiently and effectively. Key duties include managing Laboratory Information IT operations, leading cross-functional teams, and overseeing specific areas such as incident management, service delivery and customer support.

Overview

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Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$116,606 - $151,591 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBSR-13021989-26-GS
Control number
879851700

This job is open to

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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

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Serves as a recognized expert and provides authoritative consultative services to management across the Market advising on various aspects of information management.
  • Develops new policies and procedures regarding laboratory information systems (LIS), conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area, and creates and applies reengineering and continuous performance improvement initiatives.
  • Responsible for laboratory computer programs and systems to gather, record, process, analyze and report clinical data relating to autopsy, cytology, and surgical pathology.
  • Provides consultation and training of personnel on computer functions, including ordering options, and is responsible for the maintenance of computer security keys review.
  • Analyzes emerging trends, software, and technology and adopts appropriate methods.
  • Identifies, defines, and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of data or unique/controversial aspects of the testing where no direct precedent exists.
  • Serves as a recognized expert and provides authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization advising on various aspects of information management.
  • Develops new policies and procedures regarding laboratory information systems (LIS), conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area and creates and applies re-engineering and continuous performance improvement initiatives.
  • Develops and recommends new policies and procedures regarding the installation of evolving tests or techniques and use of the laboratory information systems (LIS).
  • Ensures compatibility of the (LIS) with the overall hospital information system (HIS), and provides authoritative advice and consultation regarding the functions and capabilities of the LIS to all levels of the organization.
  • Implements and maintains coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing and workload recording, and taking into account compliance principles.
  • Analyzes emerging trends, software and technology, and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals.
  • Serves as the local expert representing the lab end users by interacting with software developers to test and validate new and emerging software packages.
  • Responsible for compliance with regulatory agency requirements, as related to information systems, and perform audits as needed.
  • Provides consultation and training of personnel on computer functions, including ordering options, and is responsible for the maintenance of computer security keys.

Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 95322-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
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, pre- medical, 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. 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 histotechnician 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.
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).

GS-12 Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
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.
Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The laboratory information manager develops and recommends new policies and procedures regarding the installation of evolving tests or techniques and use of the laboratory information systems (LIS); ensures compatibility of the (LIS) with the overall hospital information system (HIS), and provides authoritative advice and consultation regarding the functions and capabilities of the LIS to all levels of the organization; implements and maintains coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing and workload recording, and taking into account compliance principles; analyzes emerging trends, software and technology, and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals; serves as the local expert representing the lab end users by interacting with software developers to test and validate new and emerging software packages; responsible for compliance with regulatory agency requirements, as related to information systems, and perform audits as needed; provides consultation and training of personnel on computer functions, including ordering options, and is responsible for the maintenance of computer security keys.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge and understanding of laboratory operations and compliance and regulatory requirements, and their relationship to the organization, sufficient to provide advice, training, and problem-solving services on specific projects, programs, or functions, and to conduct inspections or audits, as needed.
(b) Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.
(c) Skill in utilizing the LIS, program techniques, computer language, and program design sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages, and sustain operation of the laboratory system.
(d) Ability to adapt, implement, and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, and the use of office automation software.

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: The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. The work involves sitting at a microscope or computer, manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Gary Spence
Phone
253-254-4439
Email
Gary.Spence@va.gov
Address
VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
10701 East Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44106
US

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