Career Center

Summary

The Histopathology Technician supervises a large staff of nonsupervisory personnel in the performance of complex anatomic pathology testing in multiple specialties - such as Mohs testing - cytology testing - immunohistochemistry - molecular testing - or electron microscopy. The supervisor performs the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the anatomic pathology laboratory.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a United States citizen
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C.§ 7407(a)
• English Language Proficiency
• Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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
• Education
• Individuals must meet one of the requirements below:(1) 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 - (2) 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 -(3) 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
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Knowledge of regulations - and accrediting/regulatory requirements in order to develop plans and procedures for the AP laboratory
• Preferrable experience - highly recommend: at least 3 years of supervisory experience and 5 years of Histopathology experience
• 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-12
• Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Histopathology Technologist supervisor performs the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the anatomic pathology laboratory - including responsibility for assignment of work performed
• performance evaluations
• recommendations for appointment - awards - advancement - and disciplinary actions
• identification of continuing education and training needs
• and resolving interpersonal issues
• Duties may include but are not limited to: Ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements and establishes and monitors the quality of the preanalytical processes - as part of the overall laboratory quality management program - and initiates corrective action
• Responsible for contracting and fiscal matters - including budget execution - set short-term and/or long-term goals - develop policies and procedures - manages document control - and develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statements
• Requires minimal supervision - performing tasks independently with minimal routine oversight
• Plans and carries out the procedures necessary to complete the work assignment and handles problems and corrects errors in accordance with established protocols or accepted laboratory practices
• Reviews the work reports for technical soundness and conformity to policy and established requirements and in conjunction with the Chief - Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services outlines assignment parameters - deadlines - prioritizes and provides guidance in unusual circumstances
• Continual communications and treats customers (patients - visitors - volunteers - and all medical center staff) in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting the medical center and service missions
• Consistently communicates and treats customers in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately
• Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws - Federal regulations - VA statuses and policy - and VHA policy
• Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss - alteration - or unauthorized deletion
• Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files - release of access codes - etc
• Fosters a high profile of the VA Occupational Safety and Health Program by assuring employee awareness of potential safety hazards - promptly reporting all injuries and ensures supervisors are effective in corrective actions necessary to eliminate safety and health hazards in the work area
• Work Schedule: Full-Time - Monday-Friday - 0700-1530Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 09232F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized