The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for an Lead Medical Technologist. The Lead Medical Technologist will function in Ancillary Service. A Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized up to $5,000 to highly qualified candidates in accordance with agency policy. 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. 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 VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24. Education and/or Experience Combination. 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 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 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. Must possess the appropriate certification as a Medical Technologist (MT), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) given 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) or otherwise meet the requirements for certification and this requirement can be met within one year. (Applicants that are not certified must fully meet one of the three education/experience combinations and can only be pending certification. Individuals pending certification can only be appointed temporarily for one year to meet the requirement and the appointment will not be extended. Creditable Experience. Knowledge of Current Professional Laboratory Practice. For positions at or above the full performance level, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills and abilities as a MT and may be paid or non-paid employment. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position being filled. Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a MT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MT would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. Grade Determinations. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-10 Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques. Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems. Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements. Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G24 - GS-644. Physical Requirements: Physical demands may involve minimal lifting usually less than 50 lbs. The work could involve prolonged periods of standing, foot travel to and from the wards, bending, sitting, keyboard entry as well as prolonged periods reading manuals and video display terminal information. The incumbent must have the digital dexterity and adequate vision to safely test and report results. Working within the Laboratory there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. The incumbent must fully utilize all safety precautions and equipment provided by the medical center, and in compliance with local and accrediting agency requirements. ["Modifies or adapts new methods or techniques to improve or expand services. Develops protocols for performance of tests and evaluation of results. Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements, used in planning, implementing or monitoring laboratory programs and services. Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results. Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems. Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient. Provides technical advisory services to technicians, technologists, and other specialists to help solve very complex problems involving diverse aspects of Clinical Laboratory practices. Oversees the implementation and evaluation of quality control, proficiency testing and preventive maintenance of equipment. Plans sequence of operations enough for effective oversite and coordination of daily work activities and assignments in the section to assure a smooth flow and distribution of work expeditiously handling priority cases to meet schedules and deadlines. Instruct employees in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instruction, reference materials and supplies. Stay abreast of the status and progress of work, and make day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtaining assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise, such as backlogs which cannot be completed promptly. Estimate and report on expected time of completion of work and maintain record of work accomplishments and time expended and prepare production reports as requested. Follow-up on work in progress or spot check work not requiring review and review completed work to see that supervisor instruction on work sequence, procedures methods and deadlines have been met. Amend or reject work not meeting established standards, refer to supervisor questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards. Orders and maintains an adequate supply of reagents and other supplies needed to perform the daily analysis in the laboratory while keeping the waste of expendables to a minimum. Maintain a current knowledge and answer questions of other employees on procedures, policies, directives etc. and obtain needed information or decisions from supervisor on problems that arise. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of laboratory staff regarding all safety regulations. Provide on the job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices. Inform employees of available services and employee activities, resolve simple informal complaints of employees and refer others to supervisor. Report to supervisor on performance progress and training needs of employees and on behavior problems. Provide information to supervisor as requested concerning promotions, reassignment, recognition of outstanding performance and personnel needs. Develops and collects data for quality assurance monitors. Prepares a monthly/quarterly report of quality assurance data to be compiled along with other section of the main laboratory. Performs, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs instrumentation. Monitor working conditions such as seating, ventilation, lighting, safety, etc., approve leave for a few hours or for emergencies. Supervisory Controls The Medical Laboratory Director, Laboratory Manager, and/or Supervisory Medical Technologist outlines assignment parameters, deadlines, and priorities and provides advice on how to proceed when unusual problems are encountered. The technologist plans and carries out the procedures necessary to complete the work assignment and handles problems and corrects errors in accordance with established protocols or accepted laboratory practices. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday through Friday, 12:30PM to 9:00PM\nMay rotate weekends and holiday tours as needed.\nEDRP Authorized: Yes\nThis position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more"]