Supervisory Cytotechnologist

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: Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited cytotechnology program.

Foreign Graduates-To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

• Certification: Candidates must currently possess the Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) or Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification.

GS-12 level: Grade Determination
Experience- Applicants must possess 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, which is directly related to the position to be filled (Supervisory Cytotechnologist). Examples of specialized experience includes: provides direction to cytology staff by leading and overseeing daily operations of the cytology laboratory. Monitors the processing of cytology preparations, including associated quality control measures. establishes procedure manuals and forms necessary to meet departmental and regulatory needs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's).
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills, including interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to effectively interact with employees, team leaders, and managers.
2. Ability to plan, organize, set short and/or long term goals, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.
3. Skill in communicating management goals with individuals to obtain the desired effect, while ensuring compliance with established policies and regulations.
4. Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, maintenance of staff competencies, selection of staff, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions, as appropriate.
5. Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and accrediting/regulatory requirements to develop plans and procedures for the laboratory.
6.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, including annual CLIA proficiency testing.
7.Ability to rescreen previously screened negative cases, including those designated as "high risk" cases, before the diagnostic interpretation is released from the cytopathology laboratory.

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). All cytotechnologists employed in VHA, in this occupational series, performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all the qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard, but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply:

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. The work involves prolonged sitting at a microscope, manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision, and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. The FNA work involves pushing a cart that houses a microscope, stain line and other requires supplies for FNA collection. Occasionally may lift 20lbs individually and with assistance 20-30 pounds.