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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

The Pathologist Specialist serves as an assistant to the pathologists in Anatomic Pathology. The activities include and are not limited to examination and/or preparation of the surgical pathology specimens, molecular send out testing, digital pathology, and quality control.

• Assist in the performance, examination and preparation of surgical pathology specimens under the supervision of a pathologist, with appropriate work being countersigned by the pathologist.
• Label and store gross tissue specimens.
• Establish and monitor quality control/ record keeping systems and measures to ensure the accuracy and validity of test results.
• Create, use or modify logic to determine corrective action for procedural/staining problems.
• Document all discrepancies, modifications and corrections actions in appropriate reports and seek guidance from a supervisor or a pathologist when additional information is necessary.
• Prepare, modify and improve operating procedures in Anatomic Pathology.
• Perform all technical and non-technical routine and advanced duties in Anatomic Pathology.
• Communicate with Oncologists and Pathologist when gathering materials including patient information, tissue and slides and determining appropriate and relevant material for Molecular and Genomic testing.
• Perform examination and processing of pathology specimens including fixing, gross examination, orientation, cutting and dissecting, photographing, and sectioning of patient autopsy, biopsy and surgical specimens.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment & Relocation 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
• 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 dentification 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

English Language Proficiency

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

~AND~

All applicants must meet the following Basic Education Requirement:

Basic Education (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Requires Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.
~AND~

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement, to qualify for the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Experience: Possess one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes providing technical and administrative assistance of pathology grossing areas, frozen section areas and an autopsy suite; serving as technical consultant and advisor to pathologists, laboratory managers/supervisors, medical staff (both local and external) regarding policies, procedures, and practices related to anatomic pathology. ~OR~

Education: Successful completion of two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~

Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position (as described above). NOTE: Copies of transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.


You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Biology
• Diagnostic Medical Testing

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such 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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged standing (standing/walking for up to four hours per day), bending over microscopes, reaching for supplies or materials, and lifting. The work involves moderate to high physical activity. Requires the handling of deceased patients. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as dexterity (to perform intricate collection or analysis procedures).

Work Environment: The work involves almost constant exposure to unusual elements, such as extremetemperatures, toxic chemicals and bio-hazardous materials. The work environmentinvolves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions. Thework area is adequately lit and ventilated. The risk of exposure to potentially dangerousmaterials and situations does exist and require following extensive safety precautionsand will include the use of personal protective equipment.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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.