Medical Laboratory Specialist

Job Summary

The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System is currently recruiting for a Medical Technologist (Laboratory Information Manager) at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center in the Pathology Medical Laboratory Service.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be responsible for directly supervising the Medical Technologist and Technical Specialist (Assistant Laboratory Information Manager). They will develop, recommend, and write new policies and procedures regarding the installation and use of the laboratory information system (LIS) or the hospital information system (HIS).

The incumbent will implement and maintain coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing, and workload recording systems. They will analyze emerging trends, software, and technology and adopt appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals.

The candidate will advise all organizational levels on various aspects of the functions and capabilities of the information system. They will serve as a medical technologist with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, immunology, immunohematology (blood banking), serology; microbiology, flow cytometry, molecular pathology and/or and specimen procurement and processing.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm

Authorized Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA.

Paid Time Off

37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

Benefits

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. Retirement: 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 $

Requirements

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.

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: You must be a citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Education and/or Experience Combination: You must possess 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 You must possess 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 have 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 You must possess 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 have 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.

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

Grade Determinations. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Medical Technologist (Laboratory Information Manager), GS: Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least 1 year of credible experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), which is directly related to the position to be filled.

Your experience must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of concepts, principles and methodology of clinical laboratory technology in relation to laboratory information systems. Knowledge and understanding of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization sufficient to provide advisory, inspection, training and problem-solving services on specific projects, programs or functions.

Ability to adapt, implement, and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, including the use of office automation software. Knowledge of laboratory computer system analysis, program techniques, computer language, and program design sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system.

Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements for laboratory functions.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit This is a GS-12 position, which is above the full performance level

Physical Requirements

Must able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs., straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs.

Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.

According to VA Directive and handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

Education

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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.