Medical Technologist

Summary The Medical Technologist (Laboratory Manager) position is located at the Pathology and Laboratory Service at the Orlando VA Healthcare System.

As the Laboratory's Administrative Manager, incumbent occupies a management staff position in Pathology and Laboratory Service and participates with the Chief of Pathology & Laboratory in planning policies, adopting procedures and resolving problems which concern the entire laboratory.

Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career- Medical Technologist: Incumbent makes decisions on work problems presented by M.D., supervisors, technical and clerical staff.

Incumbent collaborates with head of other services or units to negotiate, decide on and/or coordinate work-related changes affecting the laboratory.

As laboratory manager, the incumbent advises the Medical Center and Health Care System management officials on the problems of the service and their impact upon patient care and the mission of the medical center.

The incumbent is responsible for setting up and oversight of laboratory new programs and operations outside of Pathology and Laboratory service.

Functions may include by are not limited to:

Shares with the other Laboratory Manager the responsibilities of carrying out the following personnel duties: recruitment of medical technologists, medical technicians, phlebotomists, administrative and clerical staff by direct correspondence and through Human Resources Services (HRS): interview and evaluate relative to training and experiences of candidates; recommendation to staff and HRS for employment and appropriate grade; assignment to working areas in the laboratory; preparation of the job description; review and approval of performance ratings; recommendation of promotions, demotions, or dismissals in consultation with the Service Chief; resolution of group complaints and serious employee complaints not resolves at a lower level; review of serious disciplinary cases and problems; preparations of disciplinary measures.

Directs and performs all administrative functions that include human resource management, budget and finance management, and program analysis.

The position requires a mastery of medical technology principles, concepts, and methods to apply new scientific/technological developments and theories to major problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods and/or take actions or make recommendations that have significant impact on existing agency/national policies and programs.

Assures adequate education and training opportunities for laboratory staff in order to maintain technical skills and competency and for advanced or additional skills when required to sustain the continuity of laboratory operations.

Manage a laboratory which performs technical, administrative, and professional work directly affecting the mission of the medical center to provide timely, high qualify patient care at a complex level.

Work Schedule:
Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 4pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance):

Not Authorized Pay:
Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Parental Leave:
After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child

Child Care Subsidy:
After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $ Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework:

Not Available Virtual:
This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #:
80313F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

English Language Proficiency.

MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Education and/or Experience Combination (Transcripts required) (1) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.).

AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program.

Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post- baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four- year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree.

OR, 2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP- BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT).

This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory.

OR, (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory.

Foreign Graduates.

Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above.

This finding may be based on either of the following:
(1)

A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree.

(2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification.

Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below (copy of certification required):

(1)

Candidates must possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT.

(2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB).

Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency.

MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Grade Determinations for GS-13 Medical Technologist (Laboratory Manager):
The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Experience.

Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled.

Assignments.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments. Laboratory Manager.

The incumbent shares with the chief of laboratory service/medical director full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations in a complexity index group 1 laboratory or in a complexity index group 2 laboratory that performs at least 1 million Standard Billable Tests annually (reported to the Laboratory Management Index Program).

The incumbent supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory and supervisory personnel including at least one GS-12 subordinate.

Provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine, including research, agency policies, new techniques and procedures.

Develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs. Consults with or serves as a consultant for local, network and national programs and/or officials. Manages regulatory affairs and compliance. Develops and manages program budget and resource utilization, inventory, acquisition and contracting processes.

Assists and participates in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical fields of study.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Advanced knowledge of concepts, principles and methodologies of a major clinical laboratory program and operations in order to assess program effectiveness and provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management.

Ability to work collaboratively with other disciplines, upper management, VISN level staff and/or VHA Central Office. Ability to plan and execute short- and long-range programs and/or goals through project management and tactical/strategic planning. Skill in administrative management (e.g., budgeting, contracting, procurement and property management) in accordance with VHA regulations.

Ability to provide advisory, planning and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors and supervisors on specific functions, programs or problems that are particularly difficult, widespread or persistent.

Ability to 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, regulatory or program requirements (e.g., cost effectiveness).

Knowledge of, and ability to, provide the full range of supervisory duties which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.

Education IMPORTANT:
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education

Note:
Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here:
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education

For further information, visit:
Additional Information Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements:

Moderate lifting pounds) and light carrying (under 15 pounds), use of both hands and fingers, standing for 2-3 hours, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors, mentally and emotionally stable, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, depth perception & ability to work with solvents.

Frequent keyboarding and computer work required.

Work Conditions may include but not limited to:

The work involves regular recurring risk of discomforts associated with working in a clinical laboratory, e.g., working with infectious substances & irritant reagents.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive , VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy).

VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.

If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO).

Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), for more information.

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