Summary Histopathology Technologist position is in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at Durham VA Medical Center. The incumbent works independently performing complex histological procedures and serves as the supervisor for Histology. Responsibilities Work Schedule: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM Monday- Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized. Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Duties: Performs the full range of supervisory duties for one or more sections of the laboratory, including responsibility for assignment of work; performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing education and training needs. Ensures compliance with the 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. Develops policies and procedures, manage document control, develop performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements. Is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, orientation, and competency assessment of assigned staff. Maintains effective interdepartmental relations with other services in order to accomplish medical center goals. Resolves specimen accessioning problems, implements procedural changes if necessary, and trains and monitors compliance by other laboratory personnel. Prepares both routine and special tissues including, but not limited to, cryopreservation of muscle biopsies, needle and punch biopsies, bone marrow aspirations, kidney biopsies, tissues from autopsies, brain, eye, and bone by fixing, decalcifying (when necessary), dehydrating, clearing, infiltrating with paraffin (using manual or automated equipment), embedding in paraffin, cutting these sections using microtomes, performing routine H&E staining, coverslipping and labeling the slides. Prepares tissues properly when embedding them, according to established procedures and depending on the @type of specimens being prepared (e.g. shave biopsies on edge; core biopsies to demonstrate the maximum amount of tissue). Stains tissue sections using special stains as required, including, but not limited to Acid Fast, Aldan Blue, Congo Red Fontanna-Masson, Giemsa, Gram, Iron, Melanin, Methenamine Silver, Mucicarnine, PAS-Schiff, and Trichrome. Deploys stains to demonstrate particular tissue elements and properties (e.g. Congo Red for amyloid; Fontanna-Masson for melanin), and interprets positive controls used for these procedures. Examines slides microscopically and accepts or rejects them on the basis of proper staining reactions. The incumbent troubleshoots major problems with special staining procedures, implement changes, trains and monitors compliance by the histopathology staff. Prepares all stains and chemical solutions with a competent, practical knowledge of chemistry. Since many of these reagents and solutions are toxic, caustic or flammable (e.g. Silver Solutions, formaldehyde, acids, alcohols), exercises great care in handling them and uses personal protective equipment including face shields, gloves, and laboratory coats. Performs simple immunohistochemical stains; troubleshoots and corrects minor problems with these procedures and maintains records and QA data. Assists in the preparation and cutting of Frozen Section specimens for rapid intraoperative consultations. Processes, sections, and stains histologic material for research purposes. Prepares blocks, wet tissue, and slides for shipment to other institutions as required following regulatory and infection control directives for packaging and labeling specimens. Ensures all equipment is in excellent condition, maintains appropriate supplies, monitors quality control data. Participates in the orientation and training of new employees in Anatomic Pathology and provides training to other medical center staff. Assists the Pathologist or Pathology Resident with autopsy, as needed. The duties include accounting for all required documentation, such as patient information, identity of the body, and scheduling the autopsy. Under the direction of the Pathologist or Pathology Resident, performs postmortem eviscerations, places removed specimens in proper preserving solutions or containers and properly labels the specimens. Performs restoration procedure of the body and maintains the autopsy area including instruments, equipment and clothing. Will also appropriately discard residual autopsy tissues in accordance with retention guidelines. Supervisory Control: The position is under technical directorship of the Chief of P&LMS or assigned pathologist and supervision of the Laboratory Manager. The Laboratory Manager provides administrative guidance and general supervision in terms of the broadly defined missions or functions of P&LMS. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for the nonsupervisory personnel, including GS-5, GS-6, GS-7, & GS-9 Histopathology Technicians and Technologists. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) Education: Individuals must meet one of the requirements below: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist, such as, but not limited to clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy; OR, Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both); OR, Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education, leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist, such as clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre- medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy. Certification: Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification. The ASCP requires completion of one of the following for a candidate to be considered "board eligible" to take the certification exam: Successful completion of a histotechnician or histotechnology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS); OR, One year of full time experience in all of the following: fixation, embedding, microtomy, processing, and staining in a histopathology (clinical, veterinary, industry, or research) laboratory. Supervisory Histopathology Technologist, GS-11 Education and Experience. Must meet one of the following: (a) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled; or (b) Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education that included a clinical practicum; or (c) A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in histopathology technology, or a directly related field that included a clinical practicum. 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). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending, and carrying light items. The incumbent must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time to interact with the patients and other services. 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/. Additional Information 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.
