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Summary The incumbent serves as a histopathology technologist with responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently. They will have the responsibility of performing difficult histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures. Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of the histopathology technologist include, but are not limited to the following: Provides first line supervision to section supervisors and HCC anatomic pathology laboratory and support specialists as well as first line supervision to office operations of P&LMS. Provides second line supervision of the histopathology technologists/technicians and office personnel assigned to sections of P&LMS. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets priorities and schedules for work completion. Develops position descriptions and performance standards for the above personnel and conduct the annual performance rating of the supervisors. Serves as the approving official of performance plans and/or annual performance appraisals for the above personnel. Interviews candidates for positions in P&LMS and selects for appointment. Assures that all new personnel receive both the hospital and laboratory orientation. Makes recommendations for selection, promotion, and reassignment of supervisory personnel. Counsels and resolves complaints from employees, individually or as a group when not resolved at the level of the unit. Identifies training needs of employees such as orientation training for new employees and competency re-training by consulting with section supervisors. Recommends continuing education training modules, and assures that all supervisors, technical personnel, and office personnel complete the required hours of Total Quality Improvement required by the VA. Develops position descriptions and performance standards for the above personnel and conducts the annual performance ratings of the supervisors. Serves as the approving official of performance plans and/or annual performance appraisals for the above personnel. Plans programs to be accomplished by subordinates, sets priorities and schedules for work completion. Control of work is accomplished by the use of subsection supervisory personnel. Renders decisions on work problems as presented by subordinate personnel. Assigns and prioritizes work to subordinates, based on difficulty and requirements of assignments. Gives advice, counsel, and instruction to supervisory personnel and other individuals on both work and administrative matters. Advises the Chief and Assistant Chief of P&LMS on problems of the units supervised that affect other services and the impact it may have on them. Interviews candidates for positions in P&LMS and selects for appointment. Makes recommendations for selection, promotion, and reassignment of supervisory personnel. Counsels and resolves complaints from employees, individually or as a group, not resolved at the level of the unit. Identifies training needs of employees such as orientation training for new employees and competency re-training by consulting with section supervisors. Recommends continuing education training modules, and assures that all supervisors, technical personnel, and office personnel complete the required hours of Total Quality Improvement required by the VA Medical Center. Coordinates activities of the service with the respective departments of the affiliated medical school, the current reference laboratories, and other VA hospital laboratories. Recommends improvements in the overall efficiency and functioning of P&LMS and identifies ways to improve service delivery. Provides assistance to the outpatient clinics and health care complexes interacting with appropriate staff to ensure that all necessary documentation is available for all pertinent activities. Keeps abreast of new technology in instrumentation and justifies expenditures for purchase of major pieces of equipment which can reduce the overall operating costs. Assures that training pertinent to the aging process and necessary modification to these activities due to the aging of the patient has been attended. Supervisory review of the training reveals appropriate understanding of the process and appropriate modifications are made as necessary to accomplish this process. Assures that all supervisors and anatomic pathology laboratory personnel demonstrate understanding of policies and procedures for handling and reporting of workplace violence. Manages financial resources of P&LMS, including personnel. Maintains control point activity from the initiation of supply requests to maintaining the control point budgets. Manages significant resources including equipment, supplies, personnel, space, and budget; analyzes budget expenditures; identifies workload trends; prepares and monitors budget and control expenditures; approves expenditures on all recurring and non-recurring items; determines staffing needs and projections; and prepares funding and staffing requests to the appropriate committees. Assures timecards are processed timely. ALL OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Variable day shift possible weekends and holidays Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. 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. Education. Individuals must meet one of the requirements below: (1) Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist, such as, but not limited to clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy; OR, (2) Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both); OR, (3) Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education, leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist, such as clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy. c. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials, and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Certification. (1) Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification. The ASCP requires completion of one of the following for a candidate to be considered "board eligible" to take the certification exam: (a) Successful completion of a histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS); OR, (b) One year of full time experience in all of the following: fixation, embedding, microtomy, processing, and staining in a histopathology (clinical, veterinary, industry, or research) laboratory. Exception for Non-Board Certified. Non-board-certified candidates designated by ASCP as "board eligible," who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements, may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a histopathology technologist working under the direct oversight of a supervisor, lab manager, or qualified individual who can verify technical experience. This exception only applies at the entry level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must have HTL certification. Temporary appointments of non-board-certified histopathology technologists may not be converted to a new temporary appointment. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Histopathology Technologist, GS-13 Experience. Experience. Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Assignment. The incumbent shares, with the Chief and Assistant Chief of P&LMS, full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of anatomic pathology laboratory service operations. Provides guidance and serves as an authority on anatomic pathology laboratory medicine. Develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, establishes, and maintains quality assurance and performance improvement programs. Serves as a consultant to local, network, and national program officials. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities- (a) Advanced knowledge of concepts, principles, and methodology of a major anatomic pathology laboratory program and operations 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. (b) Knowledge of regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements and statues that govern laboratory operations used in planning, implementing, and monitoring laboratory programs. (c) Ability to plan and execute short and/or long-term programs and/or goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, new technology, etc. (d) Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting and regulatory requirements sufficient to develop section plans and procedures consistent with requirements. (e) Skill in administrative management, i.e., budgeting, contracting, procurement, property management, and personnel management. (f) Ability to provide advisory, planning, and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors, and supervisors on specific functions, programs, or problems that is particularly difficult, widespread, or persistent. (g) Ability to solve complex problems concerned with unique or controversial aspects of histopathology technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes, or conflicts between References: VA Handbook 5005/118 PART II APPENDIX G65The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and moderate lifting to perform tasks and procedures. It also requires specific physical characteristics, abilities, and dexterity needed to perform intricate procedures. The employee may be required to spend long periods of time before a computer screen and using a keyboard. 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. 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.