This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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. Education: Individuals must meet one of the requirements below: 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 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 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. Certification: 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: Successful completion of a histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS); OR 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Supervisory Histopathology Technologist, GS-11 1) Education and Experience. Must meet one of the following: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled; OR Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education that included a clinical practicum; OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in histopathology technology, or a directly related field that included a clinical practicum. 2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws, regulations, and accrediting/regulatory requirements, in order to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory. (b) Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect, ensuring compliance with established policies, regulations, and procedures. (c) 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. (d) Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program, in addition to educating and training the laboratory staff. (e) Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills, including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution, to interact with employees, team leaders, and managers. (f) Ability to plan, organize, set short-term and/or long-term goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology. 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. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for smaller, less complex laboratories, or laboratories having no GS-11 positions subordinate to the supervisor. Employees in this assignment perform the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the laboratory, including responsibility for assignment of work; performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing education and training needs. The incumbent ensures compliance with the accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, establishes and monitors the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program, and initiates corrective action. This individual will develop policies and procedures, manage document control, develop performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements. The supervisor is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, orientation, and competency assessment of assigned staff. The supervisor will maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services in order to accomplish medical center goals. Preferred Experience: Supervisory experience, Ability to work independently, Ability to work with clinicians and other healthcare providers References: For additional information, please refer to VA Handbook 5005/118 PART II APPENDIX G65 Histopathology Technologist Qualification Standards, GS-0601, dated November 25, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be 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 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 eye strain. ["Employees in this assignment perform the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the laboratory, including responsibility for assignment of work; performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing education and training needs. Duties include but are not limited to: Supervises technical and administrative staff associated with histopathology and autopsy service. Utilizes specialized techniques for the examination and handling of tissue, cell buttons, and fine needle biopsies. Prepares technically adequate slides of tissue, and slides/Thin prep/cell block of cytology specimens. As needed, will travel to operating room, radiology suite, clinician office, or to other similar area, to prepare specimens for processing, and assist clinician in obtaining specimens. Serves as the point of contact or technical expert and adviser to laboratory and professional medical staff in the specialty of histopathology. Consult with physicians and medical staff about specimens submitted for testing. Give instruction on proper handling of specimens, including fixation procedures and specimen requirements. Communicates with various hospital clinics, wards, and operating room suites, as well as VA Medical Centers and CBOCs to provide guidance regarding the acceptability of specimens and appropriate submission conditions. Perform both routine and complex histological procedures, adheres to practices and regulations governing safety in the laboratory. Perform difficult and complex tasks on surgical, autopsied, hematopoietic and cytological specimens. Accessions and logs histological, cytologic specimens, utilizing both computer and manual back-up worksheets. Ensures and maintains accurate patient identification. Verify the accuracy and completeness of the request and proper sample submission. Properly identify all specimens. Verify discrepancies with the provider. Process all surgical pathology specimens through the complex steps of fixation, dehydration, clearing, infiltration, embedding, microtomy, staining and cover slipping. Ascertain the need for and perform fixation techniques that are non-routine such as nail preps and bone decalcifications. Ensures equipment is in optimal working condition and addresses workflow needs. Performs daily functions of the histology laboratory including accessioning, processing, embedding, and cutting of surgical and accessioning, processing and applicable screening of cytology specimens as well as proper cleaning and decontamination of grossing stations and surgical instruments. Assist the pathologist in the performance of post-mortem examination (autopsies) by identifying and preparing the body for autopsy, ensuring all paperwork/permission appropriately completed. Assists in viewings of deceased, and release of deceased from morgue. Maintains the cleanliness, organization, and safety of the autopsy suite. Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines. Work Schedule: Full Time, 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: Contact Mayleka Hicks-Amerson (mayleka.hicksamerson@va.gov) or Monique Head (monique.head@va.gov), the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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