Career Center

Summary

VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary - secondary - tertiary - and quaternary care in outpatient - inpatient - residential - and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland - Oregon - outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver - Washington - and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

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
• 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
• Exception for Non-Board Certified
• Non-board-certified candidates designated by ASCP as "board eligible -" who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements - may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a histopathology technologist working under the direct oversight of a supervisor - lab manager - or qualified individual who can verify technical experience
• This exception only applies at the entry level
• For grade levels at or above the full performance level - the candidate must have HTL certification
• Temporary appointments of non-board-certified histopathology technologists may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• This exception only applies at the entry level
• For grade levels at or above the full performance level - the candidate must have HTL certification
• Temporary appointments of non-board-certified histopathology technologists may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - non-board-certified histopathology technologists must meet one of the ASCP histotechnologist eligibility routes at the date of their appointment and must actively pursue certification from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the histopathology technologist with the written requirement to obtain certification - the date by which the certification must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain board certification by the prescribed date will result in removal from the histopathology technologist - GS-0601 occupational series and may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Certification
• Employees who fail to maintain the required certification must be removed from the histopathology technologist - GS-0601 occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency
• Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: Supervisory Histopathology Technologist - GS-12 Experience
• Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level - which is directly related to the position to be filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws - regulations - and accrediting/regulatory requirements in order to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory
• Skill in communicating with individuals - in order to obtain the desired effect - ensuring compliance with established policies - regulations - and procedures
• 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
• Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program - and/or education and training of the 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 plan - organize - set short and/or long-term goals - and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems - including fiscal matters - budget execution - personnel shortages - organizational structure - and new technology
• References: VA Handbook 5005/118 Part II - Appendix G65
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds - moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds - use of fingers - both hands required - standing 2-6 hours - ability to distinguish basic colors - working closely with others - manual skills to perform delicate procedures - mental and emotional stability.

Duties

• The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: Is responsible for the quality and accuracy in all areas of Histology: gross technical procedures - intraoperative tissue processing - routine histology - special histochemistry and immunopathology
• and all areas of cytology: collection - preparation screening and reporting
• - Plans the daily work for the histotechnologists - histotechnicians - cytotechnologist - autopsy assistants - transcriptionists and others to ensure successful - efficient and consistent operation of the anatomic pathology lab
• - Plans and assigns work to subordinates based on relative priorities - consideration of difficulty - and requirements of the assignment
• - Organizes leave and time off to assure staff coverage of section
• - Develops performance standards that are measurable and reflect the VHA strategic plan
• - Evaluates the performance of subordinates
• - Performs subordinate's competency assessments - ensuring all are competent to perform their assigned job functions
• - Instructs and advises subordinates on technical procedures
• - Counsels and advises subordinates on both work and administrative matters in accordance with Section - Service and Medical Center policies
• - Hears and resolves complaints and refers more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor
• - Effects minor disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands and recommends other actions in more serious cases
• - Develops and maintains a career development program for laboratory personnel including identifying the training needs and arranging for or conducting service training and finds ways to improve production and increase the quality of the work directed
• - Develop systems to improve workflow - production and the quality of the work directed
• - Controls personnel matters such as leave schedules - attendance certification and timecard approval
• - Interviews and selects applicants for positions
• - Recommends appointments - step increases - awards - promotions and reassignments
• The incumbent has a wide latitude for independent judgment - and is responsible for the choice of techniques - instrumentation - stains - procedures performed - as well as the accuracy of results
• To include: - Establishes - maintains and works within Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) for all sections of Anatomic Pathology (Histology - Cytology - Autopsy)
• - Directing and providing advisory - reviewing - and problem-solving services on all anatomic pathology services including all aspects of the anatomic pathology laboratory (e.g. - autopsy and morgue - histology lab - cytopathology lab - immunohistochemistry - frozen sections and the administrative procedures associated with transcription - filing and storage - inventory and supplies - coordinating and recording results of anatomic pathology conferences - monitoring case completion times and coordinating outside consultation cases and referral laboratory testing
• - Developing - performing and directing modified procedures or special studies to suit specific clinical situations and suggesting additional tests that could clarify or enhance diagnosis
• - Advising staff on the uses and limitations of various tests/procedures
• - Investigates and recommends new assays and improved methods to enhance the sensitivity - specificity - and reliability of procedures or resolve production tests with which the laboratory is experiencing problems
• - Develops and implements validation plans for new equipment and/or procedures and consider factors such as the availability and use of proficiency testing programs - required preventative maintenance - types of surveillance needed to monitor results - proper preparation and storage of reagents - and the procedures for the collection and preservation of specimens - including sample identification
• - Performing periodic studies of the section's tests to reduce turnaround-time - improve efficiency and reduce cost
• - Maintaining quality management on all tests performed in the section and ensuring there is an appropriate response when equipment or technology fails
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized