The Lead Health Technician (Audiology) (HTA) position is located in the Audiology Section of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System Audiology & Speech Pathology Service. The purpose of the position is to provide leadership and oversight to at least 2 GS-6 health technicians while also completing activities performed by the audiology health technicians to support optimal clinical operations. 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. Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position. OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry. Grandfather Provision. 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). Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). Grade Determinations: Lead HTA, GS-08 Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of organization theory and leadership theory. (b) Ability to apply principles of leadership during interactions with staff. (c) Ability to identify problems in clinic operations, consider possible solutions and implement actions approved by supervisor. (d) Skill in communicating programmatic decisions to staff. Preferred Experience: -Awareness of audiology practices -Awareness of VA systems, Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), Message Manager, Secure Messaging -Experience in patient care, mentoring, training and oversight -Some education/formal training 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-08. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Duties may include but are not limited to: -Ensures the technicians follow the guidelines for completion of duties as outlined by this service and estimates and reports on expected time of completion of work, while maintaining records of work accomplishments and time expended and preparation of production reports as requested. -Ensures quality care is delivered by all technicians for our beneficiaries, including amending or rejecting work not meeting established standards, referral to supervisor questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards. -Responsible for monitoring utilization rates of consumable supplies within this service. -Receives patients from the Audiology staff and independently completes the assessment of patients needing earmold impressions or hearing aid/assistive device repairs. -Performs troubleshooting checks on malfunctioning hearing instruments to determine if problems can be corrected or instrument must be returned for repairs. -Communicates with Audiology staff concerning order inaccuracies and assists the lead technician to develop adjustments in orders and/or inventory. -Clears ear canal of impacted cerumen for patients scheduled for the Audiology Clinic prior to testing or prior to taking an earmold impression. -Assists in orientation and training of new staff.-Management of infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic. -Identify the customer's/patient's situation properly and performs the tasks required to resolve the customer's/patient's problem accurately and in a timely manner. -Communicate with customers (e.g., veterans, family members, and the general public) in a courteous, tactful, and helpful manner. -Interacts in a professional and courteous manner with managers and other employees to facilitate the accomplishment of the work of the organization. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
