Supervisory Medical Laboratory Technician (Phlebotomy)

Summary This position is assigned to the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at Syracuse VA Medical Center. The incumbent will function as a Medical Technician (MLT) performing the full range of supervisory duties for the laboratory. Responsibilities Duties include but limited to: Supervisory MLTs supervise other technicians, laboratory assistants, phlebotomists and/or other appropriate personnel. Supervisory MLTs ensure compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements; participate in the preparation necessary for regulatory inspections; and establish and monitor the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program. They also initiate corrective action. Supervisory MLTs develop policies and procedures; manage document control; and develop performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements. They provide professional and administrative management of an assigned area, which includes orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff. Supervisory MLTs maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. These tasks will be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The generalist technician rotates with other generalists on a regular basis through all areas of the clinical laboratory. The position will include phlebotomy, central accessioning duties, including receiving specimens, delivering specimens to other departments within the lab, aliquoting specimens and other tasks as needed. They work off-hours, weekends and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need. The duties and responsibilities also include but are not limited to: Using independent judgement, the incumbent performs a full range of laboratory testing and examination of blood, urine, body fluids and other specimens. Performs routine laboratory testing (both moderate and complex testing) in all areas of the clinical laboratory including Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Chemistry, Immunology, Blood Bank, and Microbiology. The technician is assigned to rotate to all areas but may be assigned to one primary area based on laboratory needs. Packages laboratory specimens for pick up and shipment to reference laboratories. Instructs medical technologists, medical technicians, students as well as new employees in approved laboratory techniques as assigned. Performs patient care procedures such as the collection of blood and urine specimens. This activity provides specimens to the Clinical Laboratory for further testing. Properly identifies the patient, draws blood from patients for analysis and other medical purposes. Assembles equipment, such as tourniquet, needles, disposable containers for needles, blood collection devices, gauze, cotton, and alcohol on work tray, according to requirements for specified tests or procedures. Applies tourniquet to arm, locates accessible vein, swabs puncture area with antiseptic, and inserts needle into vein to draw blood into collection tube or bag. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS. The department supervisor outlines assignment parameters, deadlines, and priorities and provides advice on how to proceed when unusual problems are encountered. The technician 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. The supervisor reviews the work reports for the technical soundness and conformity to policy and established requirements. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 74913 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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. MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Education. Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification. Certification. (1) Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations. (a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP, Board of Certification. OR ii ASCP, Board of Registry. (b) American Medical Technologists. OR (c) American Association of Bioanalysts. 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. 3 For grade levels above full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 4.c.(1) above. Loss of Certification. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the MLT occupation who fail to maintain the required certification, which may also result in separation from employment. Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification as described in subparagraph 4.c. Grade Determinations: Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to effectively communicate with employees and customers. ii Ability to develop training plans and coordinate staff development. iii Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions. iv Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. 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 08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 08. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.