Lead Medical Technician

Full Job Description

The Lead Medical Technician is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC Spokane.

The employee performs many different functions, including accession specimens into computer system; collects, evaluates and processes patient specimens; answers questions relative to specimens; instructs and assists patients; and sends out specimens for testing.

Follows policies and procedures established by service, medical center, VA and regulatory agencies.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Basic Requirement for ALL applicants: Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the 0671 occupational series.

All applicants, regardless of grade level must meet minimum education requirements or specialized experience.

To qualify for this occupational series, applicants MUST have the following listed below: 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, In addition to the IOR, you must qualify based on your experience and /or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation; phlebotomy procedures to include the vacutainer collection system, safety needles and butterfly needle devices, syringes and capillary puncture techniques, and collection using microtainers; access and utilize electronic hospital computer programs to accurately read and interpret electronic lab requisitions, and to utilize the electronic systems to accession, add and delete tests as needed; ordering and procurement procedures to ensure an accurate inventory of supplies is received, maintained and stocked correctly; oral communication methods and techniques; as well as skill in establishing and maintaining effective and cooperative work relationships.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, standing, lifting, walking, stooping, repetitive motions, and stretching.

The work requires duty on weekends, holidays, and nights when so assigned.

This position is also considered high risk because of the constant exposure to blood and fluid products, sharps and chemicals, and patients in isolation rooms due to communicable disease.

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include, but are not limited to: Train all new employees and students Provide first line troubleshooting for any questions or concerns regarding test requirements, EHR system, or Standard operating procedures Perform competency assessments Service level respirator fit testing Assists supervisor in reviewing and updating schedules Monitors expiration dates Orders supplies when needed Creates holiday schedule for supervisor review Call patients to retrieve information upon receiving comment cards Performs blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer systems, syringe, and butterfly apparatus.

Demonstrates knowledge of principles, techniques, and practices of phlebotomy, hemostasis, and requirement of blood collection for the various tests performed in the laboratory.

Troubleshoot problems with incorrect identifications, missing samples and missing orders. Interacts with patients, visitors, staff, students and volunteers in a courteous and professional manner.

Adheres to all universal precautions, infection control and safety regulations associated with collection and processing of blood and body fluids.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 9:00am-5:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Lead Medical Technician/PD70561A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized