Supervisory Health Science Specialist

Full Job Description

Serves as the Veterans Administration Connecticut Health Care system, Anatomic Pathology (AP) supervisor. Serves the medical center in West Haven and Newington and their supporting Out-patient Clinics.

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

~AND~ This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job).

Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.

The Selective Placement Factor (SPF) for this position is: Have you successfully completed the Pathology Assistant certification examination given by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)?

Note: You must maintain status as a certified Pathologist Assistant, including completion of all requirements for continuing medical education (CME) and recertification.

~AND~ To qualify for this position, ALL applicants must meet the following Basic Education Requirement: BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Successfully completed a full four (4) year course of study at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher, with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of this position as a Supervisory Health Science Specialist.

(This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home at the time the degree was obtained.

"Major study" is considered to be 24 semester hours.

Transcripts Required - If you do not submit a copy of your transcript, your application may not be processed.) Please ensure that your transcripts show that a degree was conferred.

Display copies of degrees or course listings do not provide the information needed. ~AND~ In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirements above.

You must also possess one of the following minimum qualification requirements as stated below.

GS-11 QUALIFICATIONS: Specialized Experience: You must possess at least at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-9) performing the following duties: Experience in performing surgical grossing with knowledge of receiving and/or obtaining specimens using appropriate techniques, maintaining proper identification and performing all elements of gross examination and sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens according to specifications of the procedure.

Experienced in recognizing problems with the ability to solve problems using investigative processes. Maintains records and quality assurance data as necessary.

Note to Applicants: Your answer will be verified against the information provided on your resume.

If your resume does not clearly support your response by addressing your work experience in detail you will be disqualified.

~OR~ Education Substitution: Applicants who do not have specialized experience may qualify via education substitution; in order to qualify based on education at this grade level you must possess a Ph.D.

or equivalent graduate degree that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position as a Supervisory Health Science Specialist.

(Transcripts required - If you do not submit a copy of your transcript, your application may not be processed.) ~OR~ Combination of Experience and Education Applicants can also qualify by possessing equivalent combinations of completed graduate level education and specialized experience which taken together meet the total requirements for this position.

(Transcripts required.) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Manages and Organizes Information Project Management Research IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The supervisor studies and analyzes short and long-range strategic planning activities of the VACT anatomic Pathology section, and coordinates with VISN office as needed.

This includes collecting and analyzing data, identification of program needs, and succession planning.

The nature of the work requires flexibility in meeting deadlines, which can change often, depending on surgical schedules within the facility.

The work my requires long periods of teaching, standing, bending over instruments, counters and tables (microscope, autopsy table, cutting benches), as well as heavy lifting (bodies and supplies).

The work procedure requires manual dexterity and depth perception for determining depth and angles of cuts into human tissue.

The work requires color identification for visual control of staining procedures. The work requires extended periods of light microscopy to screen and evaluate cytology specimens.

The work requires long periods of computer work.

The work requires regular and recurring exposure to infections agents including but not limited to tuberculosis, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other agents, body fluids and tissues, and caustic, flammable, noxious, toxic and/or carcinogenic chemical reagents and solutions such as formaldehyde.

The work includes the use of extremely sharp cutting instruments in difficult conditions with limited visibility at times.

The position is required to utilize personal protective equipment including gloves, goggles, laboratory coats and masks; chemical disposal barrels; and fume hoods.

The work requires following all established safety policies and procedures, as written in the Medical Center Safety Manual, as well as the Anatomic pathology procedure manuals.

These policies address a wide range of issues, including chemical hygiene, infection control, and personal safety minimizing hazards and accident reporting.

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:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Some of the duties and responsibilities of this position include (but are not limited to): Provides safe, timely preparation of patient specimens from the medical center and referring institutions.

Sets priorities, schedules, and completion timeframes.

Oversees and performs work in the grossing areas, frozen section areas and autopsy suite to ensure proper processing of tissue samples, especially those requiring special handling.

Performing surgical grossing with knowledge of receiving and/or obtaining specimens using appropriate techniques Maintaining proper identification and performing all elements of gross examination and sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens according to specifications of the procedure.

Performs other duties assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Prior Supervisory Experience Preferred