The Laboratory Manager shares with the Consultant Pathologist/Laboratory Medical Director, the full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of clinical laboratory operations, ancillary testing, and off-site laboratory collections. Provides guidance and serves as an authority on Laboratory Medicine and diagnostics. Provides first-line supervision to Medical Technologists (MT), Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT), and Medical Technician/Phlebotomists. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements A. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) B. Education and/or Experience Combination. (1) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.). AND Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. OR (2) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. OR (3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. C. Certification. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. Loss of Credential. Once certified, MTs must maintain their certification. Loss of certification will result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment. D. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. GRADE REQUIREMENTS a. Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Professional Laboratory Practice. For positions at or above the full performance level, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills and abilities as a MT and may be paid or non-paid employment. (2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position being filled. (3) Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a MT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MT would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. (4) Graduate Education. Graduate education and graduate degrees may be substituted as specified at each grade level. Education must have been from an accredited college or university in a field related to MT (e.g., biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, immunohematology, biological science, physiology, allied health education, health systems administration, infection control and preventive medicine), which was accredited at the time the candidate completed the program. b. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Laboratory Manager. The incumbent works in a smaller, less complex laboratory and is responsible for managing and supervising all phases of laboratory service operations. Provides guidance and serves as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine, including research, agency policies, new techniques and procedures. Develops guidelines, assesses laboratory effectiveness, establishes and maintains quality assurance and performance improvement programs. Consults with local and network officials. Develops and manages program budget and resource utilization, inventory, acquisition and contracting processes. Assists and participates in educational programs affiliated with institutions providing training for individuals in laboratory or other related medical fields of study. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to balance the administrative and clinical functions in order to coordinate and manage programs and resources. b. Knowledge and skill in management/administration, which includes strategic and tactical program planning, coordination, interpretation, supervision, consultation, negotiation, problem solving, formulation of policy and guidelines and monitoring of laboratory programs. c. Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, on technical information with a wide variety of individuals including senior VHA managers in the medical center, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) level staff and VHA Central Office staff. d. Skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to the measurement and improvement of program effectiveness and/or organizational productivity. e. Skill to develop new or modified work methods, organizational structures, records and files, management processes, staffing patterns, etc. f. Knowledge of regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements, and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations used in planning, implementing, and monitoring laboratory programs and services. g. Skill in administrative management (e.g., budgeting, contracting, procurement and property management) in accordance with VHA regulations. Preferred Experience: A minimum of 10 years Laboratory experience in addition to 5 years supervisory experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24, May 12, 2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds), reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 4 hours), standing (up to 4 hours), repeated bending (up to 4 hours), the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, the ability to distinguish basic colors, the ability to distinguish shades of colors, and mental and emotional stability. There could be exposure to dry atmospheric conditions, constant noise, dust, electrical energy, working around machinery with moving parts, and working with hands in water. Must be able to work alone and closely with others. ["The incumbent serves as the manager and supervisor of all phases of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) operations for the Alaska VA Healthcare Systems (AVAHS). The main lab is in the Muldoon Rd Anchorage Alaska clinic. Management oversight includes Laboratory processes at Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and the Domiciliary. Some functions, roles, and responsibilities include: Provide guidance and serve as an authority and subject matter expert on laboratory medicine, agency policies, technologies, and procedures. Develop guidelines, assess laboratory effectiveness, establish and maintain quality assurance and performance improvement programs. Provide operational coordination of personnel and resources for the Laboratory Service. Consult with the Laboratory Medical Director and local, network, and national officials. Support shared services and operations with the 673rd Medical Group Joint Venture Hospital Laboratory. Manage the service budget, resource utilization, inventory, acquisitions, and contracting processes. Develop new employee training and ongoing competency assessment programs commensurate with technical position. Assist and participate in training programs affiliated with local educational institutions such as the University of Alaska (UAA) and the Career Academy. Exercise authority in the laboratory collection process for the Drug Free Workplace Program (DFWP). Assign and prioritize work to subordinates based on judgement of difficulty of assignments and staff scope of work. Identify training needs (including standard operating procedures in calibration, quality control, proficiency testing, inventory management, and maintenance), recommend continuing education modules, and monitor compliance with AVAHS required training. Assure training of non-laboratory staff who have laboratory responsibilities in point-of-care testing and specimen collection outside the Anchorage lab. Develop functional statements/position descriptions and performance plans for the Laboratory Title 5 and Hybrid Title 38 staff. Conduct annual performance appraisals/ratings for all Laboratory personnel. Serve as the hiring official and work with Human Resources (HR) to maintain labor relations, recruit, and fill positions. Assure proper and timely new employee orientation and training. Make recommendations for selection, promotion, and reassignment of personnel. Support HR in providing/handling DFWP collections by certified collectors. Plan programs to be accomplished by subordinates, set priorities and schedules for work completion. Assess laboratory effectiveness, develop performance improvement programs, and establish and maintain quality assurance in conjunction with the laboratory team. Render decisions on work problem solutions attained through collaboration with professional team. Develop strategies to address all employee survey (AES) outliers or identified items of concern. Give advice, counsel, and instruction to staff on both work and administrative matters. Regularly report on successes and problems of the laboratory and any other impacted service lines or other customers. Meet with patient and provider customers to assess satisfaction or seek opportunities to improve services to meet customer needs. Schedule, direct, and assure accurate recording of monthly Laboratory Service meetings. Attend, participate in, and contribute to organization-wide committees. Prepare required/requested reports and data to committees in timely manner. Maintain accreditations and continuous readiness for unannounced accreditation inspections (i.e. Joint Commission) in the clinical laboratory and the ancillary testing locations. Assure current Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) certificates for the clinical laboratory and ancillary testing sites are current. Coordinate preparation for environment of care (EOC) internal and external reviews which may be conducted by VA or other government agencies and may center on chemical hygiene, occupational safety, or any other specific focus. Present proposals for changes in resources along with business case and funding. Manage equipment requests, supplies, personnel, space, budget, leases, purchase card, expenditures, and contracts. Work with leaders and support groups to provide cost effective solutions. Serve as a consultant in organization-wide point-of-care testing, analyzer standardization, and procedural initiatives. Collect, use, and present meaningful data from reliable resources to access efficiencies and program effectiveness. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8am to 4:30pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]