Lead Cytotechnologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Cytotechnologist for the St. Louis VA Medical Center, within the Pathology and Laboratory department.

The Cytotechnologist performs highly complex diagnostic testing on human specimens in cytopathology, supporting diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Responsibilities include overseeing gross room and frozen section operations, providing preliminary interpretations, collaborating with pathologists, and ensuring regulatory

Qualifications

• Must have a bachelor’s degree and accredited cytotechnology program.
• Certification: CT or SCT (ASCP) required; upload certification.
• Experience in Clinical Anatomic Pathology preferred; leadership ability expected.

Responsibilities

• Oversight of gross room and frozen section operations; perform gross tissue exams.
• Provide preliminary interpretation of specimens and report results with pathologist collaboration.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and quality management program adherence.
• Lead others, assign work, balance workload, and troubleshoot processes.
• Develop and implement new procedures with proper documentation.

Skills

Cytotechnologist CT or SCT ASCP

Leadership and supervision

Informatics and data flow in lab

Regulatory compliance

Team communication with healthcare

Education

Bachelor's degree in cytotechnology or related field

CAAHEP-accredited cytotechnology program

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the Pathology and Laboratory department at the St. Louis VA Medical Center. Cytotechnologists are certified laboratory professionals performing highly complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens for diagnosis - treatment - or prevention of disease in the laboratory specialty of cytopathology.

Summary

This position is located within the Pathology and Laboratory department at the St. Louis VA Medical Center. Cytotechnologists are certified laboratory professionals performing highly complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens for diagnosis - treatment - or prevention of disease in the laboratory specialty of cytopathology.

Qualifications

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: Cytotechnologists must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited cytotechnology program
• TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE UPLOADED
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess the Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) or Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification
• CERTIFICATION MUST BE UPLOADED
• 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: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-9) that is directly related to the position to be filled
• Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: At the journey level - the cytotechnologist independently reviews clinical data of patients and evaluates all cytology preparations by light microscopy for the presence or absence of cellular patterns - presence of micro-organisms - inflammatory reactions - endocrinopathies - benign changes - pre-malignant changes - neoplasia - and cellular responses to therapeutic agents
• The cytotechnologist issues and verifies the final diagnosis for negative gynecologic specimens
• The cytotechnologist prioritizes - prepares - and processes all specimens for cytodiagnostic and immunohistochemical testing in compliance with the guidelines of regulatory agencies
• The cytotechnologist instructs others on the proper collection methods and transportation of specimens and determines acceptability of patient samples for processing
• The cytotechnologist performs routine maintenance of equipment using standard operating procedures
• In addition to the specialized experience - you must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs): Skill in researching - testing - validating - and implementing new procedures and equipment
• Ability to monitor abnormal test results - which includes notification to the physician when necessary - and to complete documentation in accordance with CAP requirements
• Ability to lead others - monitor and make work assignments - balance workload - and ensure duties are completed in an accurate and timely manner
• This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work
• Knowledge of laboratory requirements to develop - maintain - and issue written instructions and standard operating procedures - including the design of forms that comply with regulatory agencies
• Preferred Experience: Demonstrate broad and in-depth experience with dissection and grossing of surgical pathology specimens
• Currently working in Clinical Anatomic Pathology laboratory and actively involved Surgical Pathology gross room operations
• Ability to handle all types of human tissue and perform all elements of gross tissue examinations and prosecution of all types of anatomic pathology specimens
• Ability to prepare frozen section sections for intraoperative consultation and ancillary studies
• Ability to plan - organize - set priorities - work as a team member and effectively complete assignments
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results
• Ability to read - interpret and apply complex written instructions
• Skilled in informatics - laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes
• Ability to communicate - consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team - external relations - customer service and patient education
• Ability to modify or adapt established methods - procedures - or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems
• Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements
• 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-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Responsible for oversight of operations of the gross room and frozen section rooms with the ability to perform all elements of gross tissue examinations and prosection of all types of anatomic pathology specimens
• Cytotechnologists are solely responsible for: reporting the microscopic interpretation of normal pap smear tests used to detect cervical cancer
• providing preliminary interpretation of specimens from other body sites
• and collaborating with pathologists to diagnose benign and infectious processes - precancerous lesions - and malignant diseases
• Independently performs and monitors processes such as smear preparation - slide fixation - cell block preparation - monolayer filtration processing - and staining
• If a discrepancy is identified with these processes - the cytotechnologist will troubleshoot and take corrective action
• The cytotechnologist may act as a technical resource in writing and establishing new processes or procedures
• Performs a full range of specialized tasks - including collecting - compiling - and analyzing data according to the laboratory quality management program
• Uses laboratory data to implement any needed quality improvement initiatives
• Required to research - test - validate - and implement new procedures and equipment
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 8:30am - 5:00pm Telework: Not Avalible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized