Supervisory Medical Technologist - Medical Laboratory Scientist - Blood Bank

Summary
This position has full supervisory responsibility for a large staff of nonsupervisory personnel, including GS-3 through GS-11 Medical Technologists, and at least 1 subordinate team leader or supervisor at the next lower grade level. The incumbent recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, gives advice and counsel and evaluates work of subordinates. They are also responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This is an INTERNAL ANNOUNCEMENT and is limited to current, permanent employees of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and current permanent VA Nationwide employees. Current permanent employees of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System will receive first consideration. Employees of other federal agencies and the public (all U.S. citizens) should apply to announcement number CBSY-12212360-24-KAH.
Videos
Duties
Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Plans and schedules on-going work. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures.
• Collaborates in laboratory scheduling process.
• Makes recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement and disciplinary actions. Evaluates work performed by subordinates, provides advice and counseling of employees whose performance is marginal or unsatisfactory, and initiating disciplinary actions when necessary.
• Approves/disapproves or modifies leave for employees in the section.
• Enables the staff to work as a team. Promotes problem-solving amongst the staff members.
• Serves as the technical expert for the Blood Bank section. Provides advice and consultation for markedly difficult, complex, or unique problems encountered while performing pre-transfusion testing.
• Monitors physician ordering practice, specimen collection/labeling errors, near-miss events, blood product usage and discard, and the ability of the service to meet the needs of providers and patients.
• Identifies training needs appropriate for the type and complexity of the laboratory services performed.
• Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies.
• Day-to-day supervision of highly complex test performance.
• Maintains the laboratory's electronic document control system, ensuring the policies and procedures are reviewed/revised as needed and are current and consistent with regulatory requirements and accreditation standards.
• Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance.
• Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance (including proficiency testing survey samples) deviates from established performance specifications.
• Acts as a liaison between the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the blood supplier
• Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff.
• Collaborates with hospital Nursing Educators regarding blood safety, blood administration, adverse events related to transfusion, and assists with the training needs of other healthcare professionals.
• Implements and monitors quality management activities. Coordinates quality control programs and assures compliance with the proficiency testing program in the section. Establishes and monitors quality control activities and document keeping systems.
• Establishes and maintains a program of preventive maintenance for equipment.
• Maintains all required records (QC, maintenance, incident reports, PT, and corrective
• action taken).
• Ensures compliance of all laws, policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements from Food and Drug Administration, Joint Commission, College of American Pathologists, AABB, and ensures compliance with VHA Directives.
• Ensures all staff are compliant with all safety rules and regulations.
• Serves as an active member of the Blood Utilization Committee and is recognized as an authority on Blood Bank and Transfusion topics, issues, and standards.
• Serves as the back-up for the phlebotomy supervisor to maintain daily operations and workflow.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 6:30am-3:00pm; possible weekends and holidays
Telework: Available Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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
All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification. All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge, Skill, and Ability (KSA) on a separate document.
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 in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• 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.
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT.

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:
GS-12 Supervisory Medical Technologist:
The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for smaller, less complex laboratories or laboratories having no GS-11 positions subordinate to the supervisor. Employees in this assignment perform the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the laboratory, including responsibility for assignment of work performed; performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement and disciplinary actions; identification of continuing education and training needs. The individual ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements; establishes and monitors the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall laboratory quality management program, and initiates corrective action. This individual will develop policies and procedures, manage document control, develop performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements. Responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff. The supervisor will maintain effective interdepartmental relations with other services in order to accomplish medical center goals.

• Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), which is directly related to the position to be filled. GS-11 experience is defined as: Knowledge of Federal and state laws, regulations and accrediting/regulatory requirements in order to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory. Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or education and training of laboratory staff. Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution in order to deal with employees, team leaders and managers. Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions. Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long term goals and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, new technology, etc. Knowledge of concepts, principles and methods of clinical laboratory technology and operations.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  1. Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting and regulatory requirements in order to develop new policies and guidelines, formulate plans and the ability to judge effectiveness of the operation.
  2. Knowledge of laboratory quality management procedures and principles sufficient to establish and monitor a laboratory quality management program and/or education and training of laboratory staff.
  3. Knowledge of, and ability to, provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
  4. Ability to analyze organizational, technical and administrative problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient overall laboratory operation.
  5. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders and managers.
  6. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget.
  7. Ability to set short and/or long term goals for the section and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, new technology, etc.

Preferred Experience: SBB certification preferred but not required
References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II appendix G24
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.
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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted...