Jobs for People with MS: National MS Society

Summary The purpose of this position is to serve as Laboratory Manager assigned to the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Affairs Health System (NF/SG VAHS). The NF/SG VAHS PLMS is comprised of two (2) laboratories located at Malcom Randall VAMC and Lake City VAMC. Additionally, PLMS has technical oversight of Laboratory Medicine at the outpatient clinics located in Jacksonville, FL; Tallahassee, FL; and The Villages, FL. Responsibilities The Medical Technologist (Laboratory Manager) shares with the Chief, PLMS and/or medical director, full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service in a complexity index group laboratory or in a complexity index group 1a 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 non-supervisory and supervisory personnel spread across two locations including at least one GS-12 subordinate. The incumbent provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine, including research, agency policies, new techniques and procedures. Duties may include but are not limited to: The incumbent develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, establishes and maintains quality assurance and quality management programs. The incumbent consults with or serves as a consultant for local, network and national programs and/or officials. The incumbent manages regulatory affairs and compliance. The incumbent develops and manages program budget and resource utilization, inventory, acquisition and contracting processes. The incumbent assists and participates in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical fields of study. The Laboratory Manager will maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Keeps abreast of current research, clinical methods, and technical advances in the field. Develops and integrates new techniques, and procedures into laboratory programs that provide for efficient and effective processes . Maintains coverage throughout the laboratory and active recruitment and personnel selection functions. Works in conjunction with department leadership to eliminate waste and variation while increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of laboratory and hospital operations. Assists in identification and selection of methods that will provide standardized work and assure the proper application of standards set by accrediting bodies that include JC, CLIA, and CAP. Will proactively engage in accomplishing successful facility/service measures (e.g. STAT turnaround times, provider and patient satisfaction surveys, critical values etc.). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS - Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 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 $416.66. 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 #: PD50081F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf 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 Language Proficiency: Medical Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Chapter 2, Section D, 5a. Education and/or Experience Combination: In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess: (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.) (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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 (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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, (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND Five (5) 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 - (Submitted): Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT Applicants 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). Grandfathering Provision. All MTs employed in VHA in this occupation on May 12, 2014 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply: MTs that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. MTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If MTs who were retained in this occupation under this provision leave the occupation, the MT loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations for GS-13 Medical Technologist (Laboratory Manager): Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12), which is directly related to the position to be filled. Assignment: 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. 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. Grade Determinations for GS-13 Medical Technologist (Laboratory Manager) is CONTINUED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 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 CONTINUED - Grade Determinations for GS-13 Medical Technologist (Laboratory Manager) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This is a Non-Bargaining unit position. 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.