Histopathology Technician (Advanced)

Veterans Health Administration; Muskogee (OK); On-site; USD 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration’s Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma invites applications for a Histopathology Technician (Advanced), GS-7.

The position requires knowledge of histopathology testing, quality control, and instrument troubleshooting within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department. Applicants must meet basic requirements, including citizenship, English proficiency, and education/experience criteria.

Qualifications

• One year of health care field experience or education in biological sciences related to histopathology.
• Bachelor's degree in biological science or chemistry, or two years of study with 24 semester hours in chemistry/biological sciences plus 12-month histopathology/cytology program.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable for entry level.

Skills

Pathology KSAs

Quality control

Instrument troubleshooting

Independent technical judgment

Laboratory procedures

Education

Biological sciences/chemistry degree

Histopathology/cytology training

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

The Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center located in Muskogee, Oklahoma is looking to fill the vacancy of Histopathology Technician- (Advanced) within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department.

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. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Experience and Education Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician.

OR, Education(a) Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry. or(b) Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology.

OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Examples are listed below:

• (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position, or an associate's degree in a health care related field.
• (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces. 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:

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Histopathology Technician, GS-7 (Advanced) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities GS-7:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.

• (a) Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.
• (b) Ability to provide technical oversight of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement exhibiting competence in managing reagent and supply inventories and document control systems.
• (c) Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting.
• (d) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems.

Preferred Experience:

This position requires practical knowledge of the anatomic pathology laboratory practice in one or both areas of histopathology and cytology.

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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Requirements:

The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs., straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, and ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.