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 may include, but are not limited to:

• Performs pupil evaluation, recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation, and performs the swinging light test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect.
• Performs advanced color vision testing of the entire visual spectrum to detect complex color vision defects such as monochromats, dichromats, and anomalous trichromats
• Performs refractometry utilizing retinoscopy to determine spectacle prescription.
• Measures eyeglass prescriptions using a manual lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder.
• Performs A-scan ultrasonography, including intraocular lens calculations, using immersion A-scan on eyes with complex pathology such as corneal scarring, irregular and/or high astigmatism, zonular weakness, high refractive error that requires multiple alternative calculating formulas.
• Performs B-scan ultrasonography to identify intraocular masses or abnormalities.
• May assist as scrub technician in main OR surgical procedures, set up of sterile fields, operation and maintenance of phacoemulsification and vitrectomy units, cryosurgery, endolaser units, all of which require a thorough understanding of complex instrumentation and the ability to troubleshoot problems quickly and efficiently during surgical procedures and care of instruments.
• Assists with the microbiology testing of patients with sight-threatening ocular infections, preparing instrumentation and media for intraocular biopsy and/or culture.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 730am until 4:00 pm. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 62260F
Travel Required: 75%
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• MUST HAVE CURRENT COA (Certified Ophthalmic Assistant) Certification through JCAHPO

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.
• English Language: Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
• Certification: Certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
• Experience: One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician

OR

• Education: Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate degree in a health care field

OR

• Combination of Experience and Education: Equivalent combination of experience and education is qualifying. Examples are listed below:
• a). Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or
• b). Six months of experience in the health care field; and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces; or
• c). Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:

• 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: Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
• Certification: Certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
• Experience: One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician

OR

• Education: Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate degree in a health care field

Grade Determinations:

GS-09 (Advanced Level)

• Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08)

AND

GS-09 Knowledge, skills, and abilities that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume:

• Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities of a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work, etc.
• Ability to communicate effectively to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
• Ability to assist in Health Technician (Ophthalmology) development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
• Ability to act as liaison between Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.

Preferred Experience: Leadership experience in Technology-based Eye Care Services

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*9

Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment, or assisting patients. The work requires above-average agility and dexterity. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

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.