Supervisory Health Technician (Specimen Processing and Send Outs)

The primary purpose of the Supervisory Health Technician is to directly supervise Health Technicians in the Lab Phlebotomy Department. Supports the guiding principles of the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, performs duties in a manner that promotes patient safety, quality health care, outstanding customer service and maintenance of an environment committed to serving the Veteran. Supports the team concept and continually functions as a team player.

The incumbent is responsible for the overall Laboratory Supervision and efficient distribution of workload, evaluation and entry of results and enhancement of procedures to meet workload demands.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Directly supervising personnel.
• Writes and maintains phlebotomy/specimen process procedures.
• Sets deadlines and priorities
• Review of the work of staff
• Trains health technicians
• Develops performance standards
• Schedules staff, assigns work based on needs of the day, approves leave, performs competency assessments, counsels disciplinary actions.
• Interview candidates, make selection, issues awards, step increases , reassignment, training.
• Assures self and staff are compliant with American Health Association BLS certification policy.
• Outstanding communication and customer service skills.
• Extreme attention to detail, delicately performs complex venipunctures and process specimens.
• Skill troubleshooting, correct errors.
• Follows established procedures for processing biological fluids.
• Assists with blood draws, processing of specimens.
• Serves as patient advocate.
• Preforms instrument maintenance as needed, troubleshooting instrument issues.
• Provides for the development, implementation and evaluation of compliance with the college of American Pathologist and Joint Commission.
• Represent the Hand Hygiene Committee.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, tour to be discussed at interview, include weekends and holidays
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Health Technician (Specimen Processing and Send Outs)/PD01396O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/25/2026.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency; Supervisory Health Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-8 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, that demonstrates the ability to: Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; Plan and organize work; and Communicate effectively orally and in writing. Manage scheduling, vacation requests, and sick leave coverage for staff; Identify training and in-service needs and implements action; Create Standing Operating Procedures, standard work, daily procedures. Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Education: Must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or, 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or, LL.B. or J.D., if related

OR,

Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed:

• (a) Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge of optometry assistant theory and practices and general understanding of the health technician/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant related courses.
• (b) Successful completion of a course for health care technicians or assistants, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training in a program given by the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or the U.S. Public Health Service, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis.

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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, competency assessments, performance evaluations, selection of staff and recommendation of awards, advancements and when appropriate, disciplinary actions.(b) Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity.(c) Advanced understanding of interdisciplinary issues and organizational structure to serve as liaison between Pathology and Laboratory services and other programs. Assess and plan for future need.(d)Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills, including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution, to deal with employees, team leaders and managers.

Preferred Experience: 2 years of supervisory experience.

Grade Determinations: This position is above the full performance level at GS 9

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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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.

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/.

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/.

• 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 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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.