Summary

The incumbent serves as Supervisory Histopathology Technologist in the Anatomic Pathology (AP) of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) - who performs a full range of supervisory duties for the AP disciplines.

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: 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
• 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
• 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 histopathology technologists employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series - who perform the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the 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: (1) Histopathology technologists who do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance level - or demoted within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in a supervisory or managerial position
• (2) Histopathology technologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or receive a new appointment on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (3) Histopathology technologists initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard - must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (4) If histopathology technologists - who are grandfathered under this provision - leave the occupation then those employees lose grandfathered protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the histopathology technologist occupation in this series
• Grade Determinations: GS 11 Supervisory Histopathology Technologist (1) Education and Experience
• Must meet one of the following: (a) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level - which is directly related to the position to be filled
• or (b) Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education that included a clinical practicum
• or (c) 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
• 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 11
• Physical Requirements: While work is partially sedentary - there are demands for standing - walking - bending at times
• May also require travel by auto or plane
• English Language Proficiency
• Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Duties

• Major Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent serves as Supervisory Histopathology Technologist in the Anatomic Pathology (AP) of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) - who performs a full range of supervisory duties for the AP disciplines
• The incumbent is responsible for coordinating work assignments
• completing performance and competency evaluations
• provides recommendations for appointments - awards - advancement - and when appropriate - issues disciplinary actions
• provides identification of continuing education and specialized training needs for their assigned staff including and not limited to 2 GS-7 Administrative Office Assistants - 1 GS-6 Adv MSA - 4 GS-7 Histopathology Technicians - 1 GS-5 Medical Technician (assessioner) and other staff as assigned by the Manager
• The individual will assure compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements
• establishes and monitors the quality of the pre-analytical - analytical and post analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program - and assures corrective action is initiated as needed
• Performs clinical work on a consistent basis to maintain competency and provide enough staffing ratio to complete workload
• 2.Functions: Applies professional knowledge of the principles - practices - and established methodology of Anatomic Pathology areas sufficient to perform the full range of testing required to develop and modify methods that are used in AP
• Acts as an AP technical consultant and provides continuing education and guidance to the laboratory staff - physicians - pathologists - and others as needed
• Provides technical advice on problems and provides suggestions for improving or expanding the established methodology of the AP Section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service
• Utilizes knowledge of regulatory - licensing - and accrediting agency requirements - and statutes governing the clinical laboratory operations enough to use in planning - implementing - or monitoring laboratory programs and services
• These include federal and state laws - laboratory accrediting and regulatory requirements sufficient to develop section plans and procedures consistent with requirements
• Works closely with the Chief - Lab Manager - and leadership to provide a variety of needed AP information for their use
• Assists in updating the laboratory portion of the medical center infection control manual
• Develops operating procedures for all methods that are included in the AP procedure manual yearly using the CLSI format
• Updates the AP Section procedure manuals and AP safety manual
• Recommends - evaluates - develops - and implements new or modified methodologies for which established methods and practices may or may not be available
• Reviews the AP section work performed - corrects errors and notifies attending physicians as appropriate
• Reviews staffing needs and work performed in the AP Section for accuracy - precision - trends - and timely completion of results
• Provides and applies management - administrative - and professional knowledge sufficient to successfully oversee and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in the AP areas
• Monitors production requirements - turn-around times for laboratory results and other continuous performance improvement initiatives
• Designs - develops - organizes - and evaluates quality control programs to meet the criteria of College of American Pathologists (CAP) proficiency testing program
• Assures that all proficiency testing meets certification criteria set by CAP
• Also - assures compliance with other accrediting agencies such as The Joint Commission (JC) and CLIA
• Develops an alliance with the MDCH for Laboratory Preparedness - bioterrorism - and Health Alert Network
• Also - examines and investigates complaints from the hospital staff concerning questionable results and works closely with the quality assurance technologist
• Utilizes knowledge of AP diagnostics and AP laboratory instrumentation - and possesses the ability to perform maintenance - troubleshoot problems - and repair complex laboratory instrumentation and maintain equipment documentation required for CAP
• Prepares work assignment schedules and assigns duties to subordinates to assure efficient and timely performance of tests
• Provides adequate coverage for the AP Section by proper control of annual leave and sick leave usage
• Provides technical oversight and assigns personnel and special projects to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of workload
• Demonstrates the ability to plan - organize - set priorities - works as a team leader - and effectively completes management assignments within assigned timelines
• Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93760-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized