Cytotechnologist

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, (CCSQ).

As a Cytotechnologist, GS-0601-13, you will oversee the complete development, evaluation, implementation, and monitoring of health quality and safety standards and other health care procedures for laboratories under Medicare and Medicaid and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA).

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Duties

• Provide advice and consultation based upon expert knowledge of quality practices in the anatomical laboratory field, immunocytochemistry, cytogenetics, molecular pathology, and other examination of materials derived from the human body.
• Provide advice and consultation on budget, administrative and personnel requirements, record keeping, equipment maintenance, quality control, quality assurance, and proficiency testing program pertinent to CLIA regulations.
• Develop operational instructions, regulations, and other guidelines necessary for the implementation of the published regulations, including the State Operations Manual, Regional Office Manual issuances, and forms.
• Obtain input from professional organizations and other Federal agencies and negotiates their acceptance of controversial aspects of certification activities.
• Perform direct surveys of laboratories to evaluate compliance with Federal regulations, policies, and procedures and compliance with CLIA regulations.
• Consult and collaborate with subject-matter experts to identify and recommend uses of specific health data; improve mechanisms for sharing of private/public health data; facilitates exchange of ideas on application of information technology.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply for this position.
• You will be subject to a background and suitability investigation.
• Certified in cytotechnology by a certifying agency approved by HHS.
• Achieve and maintain a satisfactory grade to qualify as a cytotechnologist in a proficiency examination approved by HHS and designed to qualify as cytotechnologists.
• Incumbent must have a current and valid driver's license from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
  
  

Qualifications

ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Your resume must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from receiving further consideration.

In order to qualify for the GS-13, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include: (1)Oversee specialized and technically demanding analytical laboratory procedures for diagnostic and research purposes;(2)Write and implement laboratory policies, procedures, and procedure manuals; AND (3) Establish and maintain effective quality control/assurance, knowledge of CLIA requirements, and preventive maintenance and safety standards.

In Addition, you must meet the following Conditions of Employment:

• Certified in cytotechnology by a certifying agency approved by HHS.
• Achieve and maintain a satisfactory grade to qualify as a cytotechnologist in a proficiency examination approved by HHS and designed to qualify as a cytotechnologist.
• The incumbent must have a current and valid driver's license from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
  
  

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.

Education

Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the qualification requirements, all candidates must have the following educational requirements: Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: medical field, health sciences or allied sciences.

TRANSCRIPTS are required to verify satisfactory completion of the educational requirement listed above. Please see "Required Documents" section below for what documentation is required at the time of application.

Certifications Required: Be certified in cytotechnology by a certifying agency approved by HHS.

Click the following link to view the occupational questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12602908

Additional Information

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes-American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1923

Tour of Duty: Flexible

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure: Not Required

Remote Positions at CMS: This is a remote position; however, the position reports to a CMS Office on a periodic basis (e.g. 1-2 times per year). Requirements to report to the office will vary and can be discussed at the time of interview. As such, your pay will be based on your home address. For more information on locality and pay scales, please click here . Your worksite must be within the United States and you must adhere to all regulations and policies regarding remote work at CMS and in the federal government, including the signing of a remote work agreement.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced federal employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit the required documentation and be rated well-qualified for this vacancy. Click here for a detailed description of the required supporting documents . A well-qualified applicant is one whose knowledge, skills and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of the position. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

If You Meet The Minimum Qualifications And Education Requirements For This Position, Your Application And Responses To The Online Application Will Be Evaluated Under Category Rating And Selection Procedures For Placement In One Of The Following Categories:

• Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
• Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
• Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements
  
  

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of professional or scientific positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

Once the announcement has closed, your online application, resume, transcripts and CMS required documents will be used to determine if you meet eligibility and qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Oral Communication
• Surveying
• Technical Competence
• Written Communication
  
  

This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.