Supervisory Health Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis seeks a Supervisory Health Technician to oversee the laboratory's pre-analytical and quality management processes, develop policies, manage documents, and set performance standards.

The position requires supervising daily operations, assigning duties, evaluating staff, handling disciplinary actions, and coordinating training and inventory to ensure timely, accurate specimen processing.

Qualifications

• Specialized Experience: 1 year equivalent to GS-7 in the normal progression for the occupation.
• Time-In-Grade requirements apply to current and former federal employees, with SF-50 documentation.
• Experience in planning, organizing, and executing projects related to specimen processing and lab operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversees daily operation of the section ensuring policies and priorities are followed.
• Develops performance standards and communicates progress to staff.
• Supervises specimen processing area for all received and outgoing specimens.
• Gives advice and instruction on work and administrative matters.
• Handles complaints and escalates to management as needed.
• Interviews candidates and recommends appointments, promotions, reassignments.

Job description

Summary

The Supervisory Health Technician establishes and monitors the quality of pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program and initiates corrective actions. This individual develops policies and procedures - manages document control - develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statements.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/19/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-8 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: planning - organizing and executing projects - while also selecting the appropriate approaches and methods to solve routine and complex problems related to specimen processing and laboratory operations. Evaluating the suitability of submitted specimens - resolving labeling or quality discrepancies - determining when a new specimen is necessary - and following protocols for handling mislabeled or unlabeled samples. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Duties of the Supervisory Health Technician Oversees daily operation of the section - ensuring that agency policies and priorities are followed - that all specimens are processed - assayed - and results verified and released in a timely and efficient manner
• Develops performance standards - communicates these standards and progress in meeting these standards to subordinates and evaluates the work performance of subordinates
• Supervises the day-to-day operation of the specimen processing area for all specimens received into the laboratory and all specimens sent from the laboratory - prepares work schedules - and assigns duties to subordinates to ensure efficient and timely performance of all tests and procedures
• The incumbent gives advice - counsel - and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters
• The incumbent hears and resolves minor complaints from employees and refers group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to the Assistant Lab Manager - Lab Manager - or Director as appropriate
• The incumbent effects progressive disciplinary actions as necessary and informs laboratory management of all disciplinary action taken
• The incumbent reviews and approves leave of subordinate employees as appropriate - ensuring minimal necessary coverage of the area is maintained at all times
• The incumbent interviews candidates for positions within the section and recommends appointments - promotions - and reassignments to positions
• Performs reference checks and all other required hiring procedures
• Identifies and provides for training needs and evaluates processes to identify ways to improve efficiency - production - cost-effectiveness - and quality of the section
• Administers competency as needed for all employees in the section
• The incumbent will oversee inventory processes and assignments for maintaining supplies in the department
• Utilizes system for ordering supplies such as special collection containers - special media - aliquot tubes - shipping bags - labels - forms - etc
• Maintains a list and inventory of supplies for the section to ensure adequate supplies are available and makes emergency orders when appropriate
• Escalates supply deficiencies that may result in inability to collect or perform testing
• Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Health Technician/PD93435A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized