Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. We are accepting applications on an ongoing basis; applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, as long as the vacancy exists.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

Accomplishes the following Personnel Management duties:

• Serves as liaison between the Program Leader of Radiology, the Administrative Officer of Radiology, senior nuclear medicine physicians, and staff Nuclear Medicine Technologists in administrative matters.
• Authors and updates functional statements or position descriptions, performance standards and competencies as required by the Administrative Officer of Radiology.
• Reallocate workload when decrease in staff is expected such that patient care is not impacted. Assign daily tasks to staff when workload is light.
• Delegate authority to staff to perform certain functions resulting in completion of workload, increased moral and a more cooperative effort among employees.
• Evaluates and documents performance and competency of staff technologists use the Performance Evaluation System including disciplinary actions when warranted.
• Encourages and promotes the development and professional growth of the Nuclear Medicine staff. Responsible for ensuring that mandatory education requirements are met by staff technologists. Maintains education record of staff technologists.
• Work with vendors, manufacturers and sales representatives to present in-services aimed at current Nuclear Medicine issues. Coordinate with certifying agencies for continuing education credit awarded for attendance.

Accomplishes the following Program Administration duties:

• Develop and update non-scanning policy/procedure manual for the service in a cooperative effort with the Administrative Officer of Radiology and in compliance with JCAHO, VA, and VHA regulations.
• Work with Radiology IT professionals for incorporation of Nuclear Medicine policies into the master Radiology files.
• Develop and update technical procedure manuals for the department in compliance with JCAHO, NRC, CAP, OSHA, DOT, FDA, VA, and VHA regulations and standards.
• Develop and update hot-lab procedure manual in compliance with CAP guidelines.
• Work with Administrative Officer of Radiology for concurrence on all policy and procedures contained within any manuals for Nuclear Medicine.
• Works with senior Nuclear Medicine physicians to develop new procedures in response to patient needs and as a response to the introduction of new radiopharmaceuticals.
• Works with department and other staff physicians to incorporate recent research conclusions into present department protocols such that maximum benefit is obtained for patient studies.
• Coordinates and participates in clinical research involving the Nuclear Medicine Service.
• Works with management, staff, and other services to determine future goals of the department based on patient needs and resource allocation. Works with management teams to attain these goals.
• Assists in formulating five-year equipment needs plan, updating as conditions dictate.
• Review equipment needs of the department on an annual basis, including capital equipment, EKG, Nuclear Medicine, and IT requirements. Initiates purchasing process including formal requests, justifications, vendor contacts, presentations, quotes, travel to outside facilities etc.
• Works with services such as Space Planning Committee, Engineering, Supply, Labor, Building Management, Fiscal and others such that purchase, installation and use of new equipment is not delayed and proceeds smoothly.
• Review and recommend renovations/construction within department as needs dictate.
• Responsible for Equipment Inventory Listing and associated reports.

Accomplishes the following clinical duties:

• Works as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist when needed, performing the full range of routine, non-routine, and research radionuclide studies.
• Research new or improved stress testing techniques, receiving input from staff technologists and Cardiology personnel, formulating and effecting beneficial techniques.
• Formulate, review, and maintain records of equipment performance in conformance with NRC, CAP, and JCAHO regulations.
• Works with requesting physician, Nuclear Medicine physicians, and other services in addressing highly complex medical cases. Develops procedure to accommodate and generate high quality scans in these instances.
• Communicate with equipment and software manufactures concerns found by Nuclear Medicine physicians or technologists with respect to problematic algorithms and/or programming deficiencies. Work with these companies to correct areas of concern.
• Responsible for the accuracy and updating of the Nuclear Medicine section of the hospital Radiation Safety Manual.

Work Schedule: 07:00 to 15:30, Monday through Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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

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.
• Certification. All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following:
  • (1) Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR
  • (2) Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB.

Grade Determinations: Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-12

Experience. For assignments above the journey level, the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), directly related to the position being filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirement listed above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and, as designated by an asterisk (*), demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs:

i. *Ability to assign and evaluate work of subordinate staff as well as resolve problems that may interfere with the delivery of nuclear medicine services by staff member.
ii. Skill in providing complex nuclear medicine patient procedures.
iii. Ability to develop and initiate new protocols which apply to current research findings.
iv. *Skill in providing administrative reports both orally and in writing with higher level authorities (i.e., NHPP, TJC, NRC, Inspector General, executive leadership).
v. *Ability to interview candidates for positions in the section; recommend appointments, advancements, or, when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance; and identify continuing education and training needs.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.