Supervisory Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Veterans Health Administration (DOVA); West Haven (CT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Connecticut Healthcare System is seeking a Supervisory Health Technician (Ophthalmology) for the West Haven Campus. The role is part of Surgical Services with a 50% travel requirement and a permanent appointment.

Position is full-time, GS-10, non-sensitive, with competitive federal pay and benefits. The successful candidate will supervise ophthalmology health technicians and ensure quality patient care and proper documentation.

Qualifications

• Certification as COA is a requirement.
• Experience in ophthalmology settings is preferred.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance and coordinate activities of Health Technician (Ophthalmology).
• Communicate effectively to meet program objectives and prepare reports/present data.
• Assist in development, outcome management, and strategic planning for the ophthalmology team.
• Act as liaison between Health Technicians to resolve employee concerns.
• Assist and perform duties of GS5-9 Health Technician Ophthalmology, including testing with optical equipment.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Supervisory experience

Education

Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)

Job description

Summary

VA Connecticut Healthcare System is seeking a full-time Supervisory Health Technician for the West Haven Campus. The position is part of the Surgical Services and is located at West Haven, CT.

Overview

Location: West Haven, CT

Salary: $80,099 – $104,123 per year

Pay scale & grade: GS 10

Work schedule: Full-time

Travel Required: 50% or less – You may be expected to travel for this position.

Appointment type: Permanent

Supervisory status: Yes

Federal service type: This job is in the Excepted Service

Represented by a union: No

Drug test: Yes

Security clearance: Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Background check type: Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

Announcement number: CBTD-13104586-27-WCB

Control number: 890876900

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees – Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees – Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. ANNUAL DETERMINATION OF STAFFING SHORTAGES: This position is listed on the Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages for FY27 which waives Veterans Preference for hard to fill Hybrid vacancies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Duties

The Supervisory Health Technician (Ophthalmology) is considered to be above the full performance level performing higher level duties described in this standard with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities of the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) in order to effectively complete job duties of assignments such as distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work, etc.
• Ability to communicate effectively in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
• Ability to assist in Health Technician (Ophthalmology) development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
• Ability to act as liaison between Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.
• Assists and performs all duties and responsibilities of GS5-9 health technician ophthalmology, including, but not limited to testing using various optical equipment.
• Records Management: On a consistent basis, write patient notes in a timely manner and in the proper format according to VA policy. Will be expected to adhere to business rules of completing encounters and notes. Enter consults in a timely manner in accordance with accepted practices of the medical center.
• Proper hygiene and infection controls must be maintained at all times.
• Universal precautions for employee protection are used during the performance of the Health Technician’s duties in relation to the cleaning and processing of reusable medical equipment (RME) and the performance of assisting with eye injections and oculoplastic procedures.
• Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.742(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d).

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday Day Tour

Compressed/Flexible: Not eligible

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 #: 689-F08533

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

• Veterans’ preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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/examination.

• 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. ...

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.
• Experience and Education: ... (include full bullet list as originally provided)

Grade Determinations: GS‑10: One year of experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level ... (include KSAs)

Preferred Experience

Supervisory experience highly preferred.

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. ...

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)...

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.

Agency contact information

William Bernard

Phone: [phone] X18234

Email: [e-mail]

Address: VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 65160, US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met...

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. ...

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days per year…
• Medical/Health: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care…
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension…
• Additional benefits: …

Required documents

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Certification: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)
• Cover Letter
• DD‑214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• License
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF‑15
• SF‑50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/13/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13104586.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.