This position is located at the Las Vegas VA and serves as a first-line Supervisory Histopathology Technologist in the Anatomical Pathology Dept. Areas of coverage: Histology, Cytology, Immunohistochemistry, and Autopsy. Candidate is responsible for technical and administrative supervision and will ensure compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements, establish and monitor the quality of pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program. Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). 3. 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, premedical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy. 4. 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. 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. Grandfathering 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). 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: (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, in order 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, and/or education and training of the laboratory staff. (e) Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution in order to deal with employees, team leaders, and managers. (f) 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The primary duties and responsibilities of the Supervisory Histopathology Technologist include but are not limited to the following: Overall supervision of the following disciplines in the Path & Lab Service: Histology, Cytology, Immunohistochemistry, special stains and Autopsy Provides technical guidance to technicians/technologists when quality control or instrument problems occur during the above mentioned shifts. Prepares work schedules and assigns duties to subordinates to ensure efficient and timely performance of all tests and procedures. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff. Maintain laboratory supplies par levels. Place and expedite orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies. Takes responsibility for the quality control program to ensure that appropriate records are maintained and investigates complaints from hospital staff concerning questionable results. Evaluates, modifies, or adapts new methods or revises standard techniques to improve or expand accuracy, precision, specificity, or proficiency of analyses. Compares new methods with existing or reference methods by performance and suitability (analysis of cost, convenience, and efficiency). Assesses advances in the field for relevance to the practice of Histologic and Cytologic studies. Develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials and other program materials, which ensure accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies concerning patient testing, result reporting, and proficiency testing. Develops and implements corrective action when deficiencies are identified. Ability to work as a histopathology technologist, as needed, and accomplish duties specifically assigned to the technologist in at least two of the areas supervised. Sustains competency in those areas. Ensures activities associated with process improvement, customer service, data driven decision making or team driven change are accomplished. Each employee will ensure they complete the current mandatory hours of continuing education. Independently performs both routine and complex histological procedures. Primary function includes performing difficult and complex tasks on surgical, autopsied, hematopoietic and cytological specimens; utilizing specialized techniques for the examination and handling of tissue, cell buttons, bones, marrows and needle biopsies; and preparing technically adequate slides of tissue sections by processing tissue blocks, embedding tissue, cutting, staining, cover slipping and frozen sections. Additionally, the incumbent operates computerized laboratory equipment to fix, dehydrate and infiltrate with wax tissue specimens to be preserved for study by Pathologists Reviews results of tests to assure reports are technically accurate and fall within the accepted limitations of test error. Spots difficulties and errors prior to their manifestation in a test run which would be outside the accepted limits of confidence for their values. Initiates and maintains a complex Quality Control Program for the Immunohistochemistry section which is the keystone to all accurate and precise reporting of tests. Prepare policy/procedure manuals according to VA, Medical Center policies, FDA, CAP, Joint Commission and NCCLS standards and requirements. Maintains the lab for all inspections ensures compliance with standards by reviewing checklist, manuals and regulations. Use of knowledge of medico-legal responsibilities; regulatory agency requirements including VHA Regional Commissioner, CAP, JACHO, Federal and State laws to assist service in ensuring that all clinical chemistry areas meet the accreditation criteria established by agencies. Work Schedule: 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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