Summary The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Histopathology Technician at the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Services. The Histopathology Supervisor has full supervisory responsibility for the routine histology laboratory, gross and frozen section areas in Anatomic Pathology Service, which includes responsibility for assignment of work performed, performance evaluations, recommendations for appointments, awards, and advancement and disciplinary actions. Responsibilities Duties may include, but are not limited to: Utilize information technology systems to apply histopathology techniques and broad scientific principles from the fields of biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. Ensures routine histology lab, gross and frozen room are properly supplied and maintains inventory. Provides description of tissue received from surgery (includes noting size, color, consistency, and anatomic orientation). The histopathology technician uses professional skills in applying anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories to perform new or difficult specialized testing methods, such as immunohistochemical, frozen section technique, and gross dissection. Monitors environment, temperature, humidity, noise levels, etc. Develops and/or revises standard operating procedures and establishing performance standards to improve or extend test systems; and evaluates, modifies, or adapts new methods to meet the requirements of testing situations. Oversee the routine histology lab, gross room and frozen section for adherence to facility and regulatory safety, quality control and privacy regulations. Maintains regulatory compliance related to his/her duties daily. Reviews regulatory criteria, ensuring all procedures and protocols are maintained up to date with regulatory criteria, prepares work areas for inspection, and participates in the inspection process as required. Plays a central role in the education and training of histology staff, students, pathology residents, in the practice of Anatomic Pathology. Provides instruction at the bench and through discussion of relevant topics. Ensures instrumentation and equipment is serviced and replaced when necessary to ensure continuity of service without compromise to quality. - Assist pathologists and residents in preparing for conferences, committee presentations, or lectures; and collecting all case materials in preparation for submission to publications. Maintains a comprehensive quality management program that is compliant with regulatory requirements. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00p.m. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a 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 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. Experience and Education: Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR, Education: (a) Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry; (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) or (b) Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces. (CERTIFICATE REQUIRED) Certification. None Grandfathering Provision. 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). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5.a., this part. 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-09 Supervisory Histopathology Technician Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, at the GS-9 level, selectee must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08). Assignment. Employees in this assignment perform the full range of supervisory duties for the anatomic pathology 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 develops policies and procedures, manage document control, develops performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements. The incumbent is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff. The Supervisory Histopathology Technician maintains effective interdepartmental relations with other services in order to accomplish medical center goals. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. And Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following ALL KSAs in their resume: Expert knowledge of Federal and state laws, regulations, and accrediting /regulatory requirements to develop policies and procedures for the laboratory. Expert 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.(c) 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. Expert knowledge of concepts, principles and methods of laboratory technology and operations. Preferred Experience: Four years of specialized experience grossing surgical pathology specimens. 10 years of experience as a histopathology technician or histotechnologist. Experience assisting in intra-operative consultations. Experience developing and revising of standard operating procedures. Specialized experience includes examining and processing pathology specimens including fixation, microtomy, gross examination, orientation, gross sample photographing, and radiography. Experience overseeing gross room and frozen sections and adhering to facility and regulatory safety, quality control, and privacy regulations. 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-09. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Both hands required; Pushing; Use of fingers; Both hand required; Standing; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Good distance vision in 1 eye; Excessive noise, intermittent; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working around machinery with moving parts; Working alone; Protracted or irregular hours of work; Emotional/Mental Stability; Chemical and biological agent exposure. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. If your school was accredited at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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.
