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Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities Supervisory Medical Technologist (Molecular Diagnostics), GS-12 Duties include but are not limited to the following description: This is considered the full performance level for a Molecular Diagnostic Supervisory Medical Technologist. An MT/CLS at this level serves as the Molecular Diagnostics Supervisor and has full supervisory responsibility for a staff of personnel, including GS-9 and GS-11 MT's performing procedures in all aspects of genetic testing, Pharmaco-genetics, including DNA and RNA isolation, amplification and detection, infectious disease testing, and viral load analysis. This Supervisor advises all organizational levels on various aspects of the specialized testing including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context. Recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, gives advice and counsel and evaluates work of subordinates. Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen testing to ensure acceptable levels of performance. Assures corrective action is initiated. Assures orientation, training and competency assessment of assigned staff. Develops and updates technical policy and procedure manuals. Ensures all staff and affiliate staffs are in compliance with accrediting and regulating bodies. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level. Responsible for the theoretical and technical aspects of implementing new methods, instruments and procedures in Chemistry, while ensuring that methods and solutions are incompliance with existing CAP, Joint Commission, and VHA standards. The incumbent is directly responsible for the technical/professional and administrative supervision of all technicians and technologists within the section. The duties include review and evaluation of employee performance and preparation and yearly updating of Functional Statements or Position Descriptions. Incumbent interacts with administrative and clinical onsite personnel at all levels and exercises significant independent decision-making authority. Incumbent exercises judgment regarding when to make independent decisions versus when to request guidance from higher level management. The work is performed at VA CT Healthcare System, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. Functions include but are not limited to the following description: The incumbent plans, coordinates and directs the daily activities of the personnel in the Molecular Diagnostics Section of the clinical laboratory. Plans and coordinates long range goals for the section. Provides technical assistance and training of the laboratory personnel. Assigns duties, schedules work days, reviews and evaluates performance. Ensures the validity and accuracy of test results. Prepares work schedule to provide coverage and effective utilization of personnel. Provides technical instructions and training of personnel and/or students in techniques, instrumentation, and organization of work. Recommends selection, promotion, transfer, discipline, and discharge of personnel to the Laboratory Manager. Prepares and submits documentation to support these recommendations through the Laboratory Manager to Senior Laboratory Management. Ensures that policies/procedures are effectively followed. Establishes, implements and monitors specimen accessioning, identification, and retention systems, meeting internal and external policies and regulations and maintains surveillance for clerical errors. Ensures that the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory is in total compliance with the CAP and JCAHO surveys. Ensures that the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory is in absolute compliance with accuracy and precision limits on CAP unknowns. Establishes a preventive maintenance program for all instruments and equipment and log system for recording activity. Oversees the maintenance of equipment and instruments so that they are in good operating condition; sees that the proper corrective action is taken when malfunctions occur. Maintains appropriate levels of supplies and reagents and requests timely replacements. Assists in the preparation of the section budget and recommends capital equipment needs and replacements. Participates in continuing education by attending seminars in the field of laboratory medicine and with special emphasis on instrumentation, techniques and procedures. Informs personnel of new knowledge gained from seminars. Enforces safety practices and corrects any hazards that exist in accordance to all facility and laboratory specific safety standards and policies. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN1EDRPSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English is required by 38 USC 7402(d) and 7407(d). Education and/or Experience Combination: 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, 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, 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 the paragraph above. This finding may be based on either of the following: 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. A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification: Candidates must have the below: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Supervisory Medical Technologist (Molecular Diagnostics), GS-12 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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting and regulatory requirements in order to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans and the ability to judge effectiveness of the operation. Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or education and training of laboratory staff. Knowledge of, and ability to, provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. Ability to analyze organizational, technical and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient overall laboratory operation. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders and managers. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget. Ability to set short and/or long term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, new technology, etc. Additional functions include but are not limited to the following description: The incumbent has full and final responsibility for the operation and upkeep of the instruments and equipment used in the Molecular Diagnostics Section of the Clinical Laboratory. The incumbent personally trains and instructs other technologists/technicians in their care and maintenance. The corrective and preventive care and maintenance of the instruments and ordering of reagents remain the incumbent's responsibility. The incumbent evaluates, modifies, or adapts new methods, or revises standard techniques to improve or expand accuracy, precision, specificity or proficiency of analyses and methods in order to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations (e.g. evaluates new test systems, kits, reagents, and equipment for the assessment and quantification of normal and abnormal chemistry profiles, and recommends procurement). Knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired technologists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of the laboratory procedures. Knowledge to evaluate the suitability of specimens for analysis, requesting new specimens if determined to be unusable. Preparation of appropriate specimens for analysis, insuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained. Specimen preparation involves DNA extraction from blood, tissues, viral RNA extraction from serum or plasma. Knowledge to select, perform, evaluate and monitor the performance of test procedures using manual or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction, to locate and implement corrections. Assays are based on nucleic acid amplification by PCR, Real Time PCR (RT-PCR), signal amplification (non PCR technique) and microarray technology. Preferred Experience: Previous supervisory experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate standing, stooping, pushing, pulling, walking, reaching over-head, bending, lifting light/moderate objects and to have good visual acuity and appropriate hearing for a mechanized environment. The work involves constant exposure to biohazards and chemical hazards in a controlled environment. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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 1193.01, 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.