Lead Histopathology Technologist

Summary

This position is located within the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service of the Fargo VA Health Care System. This is an advanced detailed position for the histopathology department acting as the subject matter expert of histology procedures and processes for the histology department.

Duties

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
• Major duties include but are not limited to: Receives all requests and specimens for testing into the laboratory.
• Performs gross analysis of samples.
• Is responsible for embedding tissue of all sizes in the proper manner for correct sectioning.
• Performs frozen section preparations.
• Frozen section preparation includes freezing the unfixed specimen, sectioning it with a cryostat microtome and staining and cover slipping the slide.
• Prepares specimens for cytological exam using filter preparations and blocks.
• Performs staining of tissue sections, including histochemical staining techniques.
• Assists the pathologist during specimen collection of fine needle aspirations.
• The incumbent transcribes gross dictation from pathologists.
• Adapts and develops new test and staining procedures.
• Writes procedures for the department of all tests performed in accordance with Joint Commission, College of American Pathologists and other regulatory agencies.
• Is responsible for the Quality Improvement and Quality Control programs in Histopathology.
• Ensures that the department policies meet the requirements of regulatory and accrediting agencies.
• Prepares specimens to be submitted for quality assurance programs and for professional consultation.
• Consults with physicians and medical staff about specimens submitted for testing.
• Responsible for compliance with regulatory agency requirements as related to Anatomic Pathology.
• Reviews test results in Histology (as needed) for correctness as required by regulatory agencies, directly involves technicians/technologists in the correction of errors, and notifies attending providers as appropriate.
• Provides technical guidance to technicians/technologists when quality control or instrument problems occur.
• Is responsible for inventory and ordering of supplies and reagents for the section, keeping sufficient inventory to avoid emergent orders but not outdating reagents.
• Selects equipment and recommends purchase/lease.
• Attends training for any new equipment.
• Approves appropriate instrument maintenance logs, reviews these logs monthly, and assures that proper routine maintenance is being performed by technologists/technicians.
• Evaluates and implements the use of new methodologies and instrumentation in the Histology Section.
• Identifies training needs of employees i.e. orientation training for new employees and competency retraining.
• Trains lower grade technicians/technologists in the use of new procedures and instrumentation.
• Recommend local procedural and policy changes as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with local and national policies and procedures, and federal agency regulations.
• Prepares for external reviews by Joint Commission, IG, SOARS, CAP, FDA, etc.
• Works collaboratively with other disciplines, upper management, and VISN level staff.
• Facilitate training, installation, implementation, maintenance and overall use of Anatomic Pathology throughout the medical center.
• Report and resolve clinical, business operational, and technical issues through approved channels.
• Assess and monitor clinical workflow and outcomes pre- and post- implementation.
• Maintaining appropriate levels of supplies and reagents for the efficient operation of the assigned sections (Histology).
• Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks; and identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Perform initial and ongoing skill-gap analysis of users (hardware/software); resolve identified user issues prior to implementation, review of competency checklists with appropriate clinical managers.
• Establish baseline measures (data collection, analysis, reporting) through standardized methodologies pre- and post- implementation.
• Responsible for advising Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist or Lab Manager if leave requests from Histology Department do not correlate with workflow Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm 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

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. 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 identification 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Area of Consideration – Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Professional Certification Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter RECOMMENDED: Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document – KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Clinical Resume (can be greater than 2 pages).
• Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.