Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician

Description:

***This is an open continuous announcement. Candidates will be referred every 2 weeks until the position is filled. This announcement may close early if the position is filled before the closing date listed***

This Advanced Medical Lab Technician position is located at the VA Illiana Healthcare System Hospital, 1900 E Main St. Danville, IL 61832.

Requirements:

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. MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education. Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.
• Certification. Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations. (COPY OF CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED) .
  • American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
    • ASCP, Board of Certification OR,
    • ASCP, Board of Registry
  • American Medical Technologists OR,
  • American Association of Bioanalysts
• Certification Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) without the option to extend. For grade levels above full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 4.c.(1) above.

Grade Determinations :

Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-07:

Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. Assignment-specific KSAs are designated with an asterisk (*) and are only required if that task is required of the position, as indicated in part (c) below.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs as identified by the corresponding asterisk(s) if MLTs are assigned advanced MLT duties:

• Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.
• Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing.
• Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment.
• Knowledge of laboratory information technology (IT) systems including troubleshooting systems issues, interface requirements between new instruments and existing IT infrastructure and laboratory IT test development.
• Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with continuing education and employee orientation to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements.
• Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards.
• Ability to assist with quality management activities in the laboratory, including monitoring and evaluating quality in accordance with CLIA and CAP, conducting quality improvement activities and communicating quality management results.

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-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-7.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.