Summary Serve as a Lead Medical Technician in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. A Lead Medical Technician will provide assistance to Medical Technologists, Supervisors and Managers in performing specimen collection, examination, receipt, processing and shipment procedures as well as phlebotomy in an inpatient and outpatient setting. Responsibilities Duties consist of the following, but are not limited to: Performs blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer systems, syringe, butterfly, and/or capillary finger sticks. Collects blood specimens, using correct container and order of draw. Collects urine specimens and cultures in a manner that preserves the integrity of sample. Processes emergency specimens and routine specimens in a timely manner. Follows proper protocol for specialty blood draws. Evaluates the suitability of specimens. Prepares electronic requisitions for samples to be sent to the reference laboratories. Uses a computer to retrieve laboratory test information. Performs computerized accessioning of patient specimens. Identifies inpatients and outpatients for whom laboratory tests have been ordered, and prints labels for appropriate blood samples. Perform complex Federal Drug testing that requires complex steps being followed to collect relevant specimen. Understands and utilizes information resource technology (i.e. computers, printers, label printers, copy machines, phones, fax machines, various computer information packages, etc. Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques of urine, stool, or other fluid collections. Interacts with patients, visitors, staff, students and volunteers in a courteous, helpful, tactful, cooperative, respectful and compassionate manner. Responds positively and in a timely manner to customer requests for service or information. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Identifies patients and ensure proper sample procurement and specimen labeling. Assesses patient condition before, during, and after procedures. Administers initial intervention in the event of an emergency. Observes and reports any physical or mental changes during patient blood draws. Prepares samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting and aliquoting, etc. Sterilizes and autoclaves contaminated material according to safety policies. Cleans glassware and other reusable items following established policies and procedures. Adheres to all universal precautions, infection control, and safety regulations associated with phlebotomy. Collects specimens using proper patient identification and specimen labeling. Maintains operational and quality control logs, records, and worksheets. Identifies unusual test results or discrepancies/conditions that can lead to erroneous results. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Position Description/PD#: Lead Medical Technician/PD11177A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/06/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performs blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer systems, syringe, butterfly, and/or capillary finger sticks. Collects blood specimens, using correct container and order of draw. Processes emergency specimens and routine specimens in a timely manner. Identifies patients and ensure proper sample procurement and specimen labeling. Assesses patient condition before, during, and after procedures. Administers initial intervention in the event of an emergency. Adheres to all universal precautions, infection control, and safety regulations associated with phlebotomy. Sterilizes and autoclaves contaminated material according to safety policies. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Patient Care Quality Assurance Specimen Collection 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures. Data entry includes patient information, test orders, and other critical data in a computer that may result in physical problems from the effects of repetitive motion and eyestrain. The incumbent must have normal color vision correctable to 20/20. The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
