Summary This position serves in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the Fayetteville, Arkansas campus of the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks. The Lead Medical Technician (Lead Phlebotomist) assigned to oversee phlebotomy support for both in- and outpatients. This role is responsible for performing phlebotomy, accessioning specimens, and performing other procedures necessary to ensure appropriate specimen receipt, handling, and processing to ensure accurate and reliable results. Responsibilities Duties: 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. 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. Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients. Work Schedule: Compressed/Flexible: Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Medical Technician-Phlebotomist/PD03232-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Approved Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Approved Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring long periods of standing, waking, bending and lifting. The work may require the incumbent to assist in lifting of equipment or patients. The nature of the job requires the incumbent to have above average dexterity in the performance of the daily job. In many situations, the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/26/2026. Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements. Select the one statement that best describes your experience, education, or combination thereof, that demonstrates you possess the basic requirements to perform this job. To qualify you must possess one of the following: 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. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled. In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must also meet the experience and/or directly related education relevant to this position. To qualify at the GS-05 grade, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level or higher and/or meet educational requirements or a combination of specialized experience and education. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. Specialized Experience: Experience performing venipuncture. Experience training and orienting new employees. Experience maintaining laboratory supplies. Experience processing specimens. OR Education: 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation (transcripts required). OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Combination of specialized experience as described above and education as described above which totals in excess of 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (transcripts required).[To calculate: determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-05 level. Then determine your education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-05. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. 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 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/. Additional Information 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
