Montana Veteran Jobs

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Medical Technologist Lead duties include but aren't limited to: Serves as a Generalist Medical Technologist Responsible for coverage for clinical disciplines of Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis, Blood Gases, Coagulation, Blood Bank & HgbA1c (excluding Histology) Updates policies/procedures adheres to all accreditation standards, performs inventory & ordering duties, quality control program oversight including corrective actions, blood utilization committee member, new method development & Blood Bank computer program oversight including initial program validation & trains staff on program use Addresses issues & corrects errors according to laboratory policy Completed work is spot-checked for technical soundness & conformity to laboratory policy & requirements Serves as expert Blood Bank department technical advisor Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens &/or environmental samples using manual & automated techniques Performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates & validates laboratory procedures & results accuracy rates Prepares reagents, assembles equipment & verifies correct instrument operation Maintains assay system validity by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use for patient testing Evaluates data validity in relation to test system & assay procedures Correlates & integrates information & performs additional testing to confirm abnormal results Collect venous & arterial blood samples from patients adhering to all safety & patient care requirements Judges sample acceptability submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements Processes specimens/selects appropriate procedures based on knowledge of specimen types, patient information & available laboratory resources Controls physical conditions & responds to time factors to ensure the physiological state of specimen is maintained Responsible for mastering preventive maintenance requirements for instruments & testing systems Resolves procedural, reagent & equipment problems according to written procedures, verbal instructions & previous experience Provides training/consultation for staff on theoretical & practical procedural aspects & provides laboratory practice demonstrations Responsible for technical oversight of Blood Bank section/monitors Blood Bank section quality control systems Ensures timely & thorough data evaluation ensures discrepancies are identified & resolved Provides equipment oversight ensuring ongoing checks on temperature-sensitive equipment & associated alarms are in continuous operation & checks are documented adequately Creates/updates procedure manuals to maintain compliance w/ changing accreditation standards Member of Transfusion Utilization committee Responsible for compiling/presenting quarterly information & statistics on Blood & Blood products for Medical Executive Board Participates educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork Practices good customer customer service & demonstrates VA I-CARE values Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results Identifies problem areas by practicing evidence-based practices on unit Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, with rotating weekends & holidays Recruitment Incentive: Authorized Relocation Incentive: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Michael Warner at michael.warner3@va.gov, EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary & 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 w/ the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees w/ 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) & federal 401K w/ 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 #: PD436-57475-O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English Education and/or Experience Combination (1) 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., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.). AND 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 program or be integrated into a four- year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. OR (2) 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 (3) 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 paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) 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. (2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). Loss of Credential. Once certified, MTs must maintain their certification. Loss of certification will result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment. Grade Determination: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates in addition to possessing all the basic requirements. GS-11 Lead Medical Technologist Above the Full Performance Level Experience. 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 Education. 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. AND The candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities, KSAs, in addition to the experience or education above. 1) Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice 2) Knowledge of regulatory, licensing and accrediting agency requirements and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations in order to plan, implement or monitor laboratory programs and services 3) Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section 4) Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation 5) Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload Preferred Experience: Previous blood bank experience preferred, especially in a hospital setting. Reference: Former VA Handbook Reference Part II APPENDIX G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-11. Physical Requirements: Frequent & long periods of the following are common: sitting, walking, standing, climbing/descending stairs, and stooping Regularly reaching above shoulders, using computer, mouse and keyboard Carry light items: papers, books & medical supplies Simultaneous perform rapid mental/muscular calculations & analysis Mild physical labor to complete the tasks at hand Exposure to blood, chemicals, and other bodily fluids Other physical demands that coincide with the duties of a laboratory professional Correctable near/far sighted vision/Hearing Aid allowed Complete, pass & maintain Basic Life Support course Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts can be unofficial transcripts, but must include your name, the school's entire name, the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, and name of degree received. 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 or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

Montana Jobs