Lead Medical Technologist - Microbiology

Description:

The position is that of a Lead Medical Technologist for the Microbiology Section within Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service for the Columbia VA Healthcare System. The incumbent facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals and achievements are coordinated with management. Incumbent is responsible for all technical aspects of operation in the Microbiology Section.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position as a GS-0644 Medical Technologist (Lead Medical Technologist), you must meet the following:
Basic Requirements 1. Citizen of the United States; non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3g. 2. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 2, Section D, Paragraph 5a. 3. Education and Experience: Your education and experience must include:

A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.). AND The completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate; OR A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory; OR A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Foreign Graduates Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in above in 3c-3d or 3e-3f. This finding may be based on either of the following: A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree. A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT.

Grandfathering Provision: All MTs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of May 12, 2014 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and 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) MTs that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) MTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(3) MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.(4) If MTs who were retained in this occupation under this provision leave the occupation, the MT loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade-Level Requirements - GS-11 Medical Technologist (Lead Medical Technologist)
Experience/Education Requirement: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-9), which is directly related to the position to be filled or must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education
OR
a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field.

Lead Medical Technologist: This assignment requires specialized training and experience and the use of a wide latitude of independent judgment. Employees must have advanced knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. In this role, you will facilitate team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals, and achievements are coordinated with management.

This position is responsible for all aspects of operation in their area of specialty including preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation, and compliance. You will also act as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty

Preferred Experience: Specialized Certification such as MT (ASCP) SM or MLS ASCP) ; five or more years Microbiology and/or other Leadership experience in a medium / Large Medical Center.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD