Lead Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist

This position is a Lead Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist located in Detroit, MI. The Lead DRT X-Ray Technologist is responsible for maintaining successful radiology operations by monitoring and making work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues, and maintains efficient workflow.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Manages and directs the work of lower graded technologists when procedures require assistance.
• Directs all section schedules in a manner to optimize workflow while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases, rearranging patients to accommodate these requests.
• Develops and maintains a weekly rotational technologist schedule to ensure fair and equal assignments of the technologists and their duties.
• Determines staffing requirements based on past, present, and future workload patterns and develops the weekly/monthly work schedules.
• Organizes staff work assignments, including lunch and break rotations.
• Reports absences and tardiness to Medical Imaging Supervisor and Clinical Manager.
• Recommends the reassignment of technologists, if necessary, because of call-ins or increased/decreased workload.
• Performs quality assurance and quality control procedures a routine basis to ensure peak performance of the equipment and its output.
• Initiates recommendations to higher authorities or, changes to increase productivity, revise staffing, assure cost efficiency, and improve morale.
• Assist radiologists in the less complex fluoroscopic examinations.
• Prepares contrast materials under the direction of the radiologist for the purpose of performing exams requiring injectable solutions such as IVP, cystogram, cholangiograms fistulagrams and arthrography and for the purpose of performing, oral and rectal exams of the GI tract. These procedures require the use of needles, syringes, renografin, barium, enema bags and drinking cups.
• Practices radiation safety to reduce exposure to patients, staff, and self. Utilizes the radiation safety principle of ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) to minimize radiation doses and releases of radioactive materials in accordance with our radiation safety program.
• Uses lead aprons, lead gloves, lead shields, lead lined walls, collimation, etc. to achieve ALARA.
• Ensures that all staff are compliant with radiation safety badges and similar tracking tools. Ensure that radiation badges are changed monthly or as appropriate.
• Communicates with supervisor and safety office on radiation safety issues.
• Responsible to the radiologists and supervisor for the quality and quantity of radiographic exams performed to assure a high level of acceptability of radiographs while minimizing patient dosage and reducing costs.
• Practices radiation safety to reduce exposure to patient, staff, and self.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92100-0
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Certification. All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT) (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), [or Mammography (M) duties performed independently, as applicable]. Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent [can operate independently] and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination. [In modalities that require advanced certification, to support their continued development, technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist.]
• Education. Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from [other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE).]
• English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

Grade Determinations:

GS-9:

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
• Functions as a lead DRT for a group of DRTs at the full performance level and below, providing input on performance, resolving daily workplace issues, and maintaining efficient workflow. Provides a full range of general radiologic imaging exams, has a general knowledge of the different modalities within the diagnostic radiologic area, and is accountable to the next higher-level supervisor. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:
  • Ability to provide technical oversight and assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload utilizing the personnel to the greatest advantage thus providing the optimal level of patient care within the workday.
  • Ability to plan, direct, and distribute work assignments to DRTs at lower grade levels.
  • Skill in instructing and training DRTs on newly acquired equipment. iv. Ability to plan and project staffing needs.
  • Skill to independently perform general and specialized diagnostic radiologic procedures in advanced levels of complex treatment situations.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent requires one to be able to stand or walk long periods of time. There is some bending and carrying of moderately heavy articles such as equipment or records. The technologist must be able to help lift and move patients to difficult positions on the radiographic table. The incumbent will be using multiple computer systems, using both mouse and keyboard input, stressing the hand wrist. When performing x-ray procedures, the incumbent is considered an occupationally exposed individual working under the supervision of the radiation safety officer. Exposure in controlled areas must be kept at a level that would not allow the technologist to stay in the area during the entire working month without exceeding their maximum permissible dose (MPD). This is monitored by wearing a dosimeter badge MPD for the whole body and other vital organs (gonads, red bone marrow and lenses) should not exceed 5 REMS times the age in years, minus 18. When required, it is mandatory that the technologists wear protective devices and shield patients according to the Service Protocol.

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.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.