Clarification from the agency

The Public - Open to ALL US Citizens, including ALL Current Permanent Federal Employees, Current Permanent Department of VA Employees; and Current Permanent NF/SG VA Healthcare System Employees. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration, followed by Agency Employees, Federal Employees from other agencies, eligible veterans preference applicants and then US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Interview and selection personnel as required.
• Assigns staff to achieve optimum patient care and timely delivery of specimens.
• Ensures the work assignment of employees in the team are carried out.
• Assign functions to team members to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities.
• Train students and new employees who require education and instruction in phlebotomy techniques, safety procedures, specimen handling, and urine drug screen collection.
• Perform competency assessments of assigned personnel and provide documentation of training activities to meet agency accrediting requirements.
• Utilize the outpatient laboratory workflow system to determine patient waiting times and adjusts staffing as needed to meet or exceed goals.
• Prepare schedules and monitor attendance of employees. Coordinate leave requests to ensure maximum coverage.
• Maintain current knowledge and answers questions of other employees about procedures, policies and directives.
• Resolves formal and informal complaints of employees and patients

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4pm, Monday through Friday including rotational weekends and holidays
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55607F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
• 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:

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)).

English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Education. Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.

Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification described below.

Certification. Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations. (Submit applicable and required certification upon possession)

• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP): Either from the Board of Certification OR Board of Registry. OR
• American Medical Technologists OR
• American Association of Bioanalysts

Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in this qualification standard on the effective date (10/10/2023) of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification.


Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, qualifications will be determined by the appropriate grade assignment described below

Supervisory Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-08

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to effectively communicate with employees and customers.
• Ability to develop training plans and coordinate staff development.
• Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions.
• Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.

Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory MLTs perform the full range of supervisory duties for the laboratory including assigning work; completing performance evaluations; recommending appointment, awards, advancement and disciplinary actions; and identifying continuing education and training needs. Supervisory MLTs supervise other technicians, laboratory assistants, phlebotomists and/or other appropriate personnel. Supervisory MLTs ensure compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements; participate in the preparation necessary for regulatory inspections; and establish and monitor the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program. They also initiate corrective action. Supervisory MLTs develop policies and procedures; manage document control; and develop performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements. They provide professional and administrative management of an assigned area, which includes orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff. Supervisory MLTs maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

Preferred Experience: Have at least 2 years as a lead or supervisor

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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, ability to distinguish basic colors, moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, hearing (aid permitted), standing (6 hours), good distance vision in one eye. I understand and can perform the essential job functions, physical demands, and competencies of this job.

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 resume must include the following information for each job listed: * Job title * Duties (be as detailed as possible) * Month and Year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) * Full-Time or Part-Time status with hours worked per week. Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

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.