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 are not limited to:

• Utilize concepts, principles, and methodology of medical technology programs and operations sufficient to assess program effectiveness to provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management.
• Understanding of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization sufficient to provide advisory, inspection, training, and problem-solving services on specific projects, and programs or functions.
• Foster collaboration between various departments to ensure workflows, technology solutions and deliverables meet the needs of the entire market.
• Develop and maintain a computer downtime contingency plan for both scheduled and emergency interruptions of computer service.
• Perform administrative management (e.g., budgeting, contracting, procurement, and property management) and ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource, and computer equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
• Solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes, or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements, and regulatory or program requirements.
• Implements and maintains coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing, and workload recording considering compliance principles.
• Evaluate the validity of the data concerning the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative and qualitative data with patient data (e.g., history, medications) as necessary for test results.
• Maintains the LIS to identify abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician to follow the proper laboratory and medical center policies.
• Establishes, maintains, and manages the Laboratory Electronic Data Interface (LEDI) for the VANEOHCS Market, interoperability with VA sites external to VISN10, and external private commercial reference laboratories.
• Maintains Instrument Manager upgrades and connections
• Implement new patches or changes in instrumentation promptly and test thoroughly to detect problems in ordering, accessioning, or resulting lab tests
• Analyzes emerging trends, software, and technology and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals.
• Performs checks to maintain compliance with regulatory bodies.
• Performs market research and evaluates the suitability and cost-effectiveness of new instrumentation, laboratory software, computers, and/or equipment.
• Responsible for the implementation, verification, and validation of new instrumentation auto-release procedure.
• Modifies existing policies, procedures, or processes or creates new policies, procedures, or processes for the purpose of providing improved services, reduced cost, decreased turnaround times, etc.
• Follows all safety and infectious disease policies while conducting duties of the position.
• Continuously completes medical center and laboratory training and education as required.
• Ability to organize and prioritize duties across different departments and priorities, and during heavy workload situations to expedite patient results.
• Assists in completing the Quality Management program for Anatomic Pathology.

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.

• 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.

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. To qualify for appointment as a Cytotechnologist, all applicants must possess the following:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part.)

Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited cytotechnology program.

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.
(1) Candidates must currently possess the Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) or Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification.
(2) Loss of Certification. An employee who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

English Language Proficiency. Cytotechnologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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)

Cytotechnologist (Laboratory Information Manager), GS-12 Grade Determinations:

Experience. At this level, the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level that is directly related to the position to be filled.

Assignments. For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), 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 the use of the laboratory information system (LIS). The laboratory information manager 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. The laboratory information manager implements and maintains coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing and workload recording, while considering compliance principles. The laboratory information manager analyzes emerging trends, software and technology, and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals. The laboratory information manager serves as the local expert representing the lab end users, by interacting with software developers to test and validate new and emerging software packages. The laboratory information manager is responsible for compliance with regulatory agency requirements, as related to information systems, and performs audits, as needed. The laboratory information manager 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:

i. Knowledge and understanding of laboratory operations, and compliance and regulatory requirements to provide advice, training, and problem-solving services on specific projects, programs, or functions, in order to conduct inspections and audits, as needed.
ii. Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.
iii. Skill in using the laboratory information system, program techniques, computer language, and program design sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system.
iv. Ability to adapt, implement, and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, including 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.

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.