Supervisory Histopathology Technician
What you'd do
The incumbent will perform the full range of supervisory duties for the anatomic pathology laboratory, including responsibility for assignment of work performed; performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement and disciplinary actions; identification of continuing education and training needs. Also responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff.
Major duties
Duties include but are not limited to the following: Maintains knowledge of and complies with federal regulations associated with the Clinical Lab Improvement Act of 1988. Plans and schedules on-going work. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures. Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives and management strategies. Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance; assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications. Approves and certifies all leave related requests according local payroll policies. Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications. Assures orientation, training and competency assessment of staff has been performed and appropriated documented. Implements and monitors quality management activities. Works in conjunction with the section Technical Specialist, Leads and Pathologists to analyze emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing. Responds to complaints from patients and employees. Performs the full range of supervisory duties, including but not limited to, recommendations for appointments; planning, scheduling and assigning work; setting priorities; evaluating the work of subordinates; performance evaluations; providing advice and counsel, submitting requests to purchase or lease equipment. Serves on anatomic technical team and represents their facility. Work Schedule: M-F 0530 - 1400 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
What you need to qualify
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. Experience and Education Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR, Education-Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry; or Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology. OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below: Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; or Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces. English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grandfathering Provision: All Histopathology Technicians employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees 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. (3) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-08 (Lead); perform duties which consist of a significant scope, complexity and administrative independence. Provides direction to the daily operations and assumes responsibility for integrating and monitoring the standard adherence to methods and protocols to maintain continuous work flow and quality within the unit. Additionally, the Histopathology Technician must be able to demonstrate: Expert knowledge of Federal and state laws, regulations, and accrediting/regulatory requirements in order to develop policies and procedures for the laboratory; Expert 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; Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution in order to deal with employees, team leaders and managers; Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions; Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long term goals and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, new technology; Expert knowledge of concepts, principles and methods of laboratory technology and operations. Preferred Experience: Histopathology Technician with at least 5 years of Histopathology and leadership experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: Must meet all requirements for pre-placement examination in accordance with VA Handbook 5019.
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