Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Supervisory Medical Laboratory Technician at this level has full supervisory responsibility for the Phlebotomy section which includes outpatient and inpatient services at one of the following sites: Malcom Randall VA Medical Center/Primary Care Clinic, Lake City VA Medical Center/Commerce CBOC, Tallahassee OPC, or The Villages Outpatient Clinic with between 5 to 25 subordinate Phlebotomists.

• Assigns staff to achieve optimum patient care and timely delivery of specimens.
• Ensures the work assignments of employees in the team are carried out.
• Assigns functions to team members in order to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities.
• Functions as a primary training coordinator for students and new employees who require education and instruction in phlebotomy techniques, safety procedures, specimen handling, and urine drug screen collection.
• Performs competency assessments of assigned personnel and provides documentation of training activities to meet agency accrediting requirements for The Joint Commission, Food and Drug Administration, American Association of Blood Banks and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
• Utilizes outpatient laboratory workflow system to determine patient waiting times and adjusts staffing as needed to meet or exceed goals for patient waiting times.
• In case of shortage of personnel due to scheduled or unscheduled leave, the incumbent will be responsible for filling in and for distributing the workload to other team members to ensure smooth workflow.
• Ensures required training such as cardiac resuscitation and Fit Testing is up to date on the employees in their area. Collects and collates data for the Quality Assurance Meeting.
• Prepares schedules and monitors attendance of employees. Coordinates leave requests to ensure maximum coverage.
• Assures formal orientation and training programs are developed and carried out as required. Provide ongoing assessment and development of staff to promote maximum levels of professional achievement and advancement.
• Participates in the interviewing and selection of personnel as required. Provides opportunities for staff development through in-service programs, patient teaching and staff projects in collaboration with Quality Manager.
• Will serve as Records Liaison Officer for the phlebotomy section.
• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions of other employees about procedures, policies and directives. Writes/revises Standard Operating Procedures.
• Resolves formal and informal complaints of employees and patients through Joint Patient Safety Reporting and PATS-R sites.
• Incumbent follows proper infectious disease controls by following standard precaution procedures and using correct Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensure that others utilize appropriate PPE for their tasks. The incumbent follows established safety policies and attends mandatory safety training. The incumbent maintains a clean and safe work environment.
• Perform additional medical administrative duties such as participate in special projects or analytical studies of problem areas, conduct investigations and/or systemic reviews of operations, makes recommendations or suggestions for improved methods and procedures, coordinates, implements and completes accepted changes. Drafts policy for clinic operation. Investigates issues and prepares correspondence relating to patient care activities. Accomplishes assigned task on or before the specified deadline.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 7:00am - 3:30pm Monday - Friday
Recruitment Incentive (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.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical 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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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.
• Education. Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.
• Certification.(1) Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations. (a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP, Board of Certification. OR ii ASCP, Board of Registry. (b) American Medical Technologists. OR (c) American Association of Bioanalysts.
• English Language Proficiency. MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 4, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Supervisory Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-08.

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level.


Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• i Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to effectively communicate with employees and customers.
• ii Ability to develop training plans and coordinate staff development.
• iii Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions.
• iv Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations.

Preferred Experience - These preferences are highly desired but are not required:

• 5 Years Phlebotomy Experience
• Phlebotomy Section Lead Experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, ability to distinguish basic colors, moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, hearing (aid permitted), standing (6 hours), good distance vision in one eye.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.