Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited Cytotechnology Program. Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Certification. Candidates must currently possess the Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) OR Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification. English Language Proficiency: Cytotechnologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Lead Cytotechnologist, GS-11 Experience. The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-9) that is directly related to the position to be filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in researching, testing, validating, and implementing new procedures and equipment. Ability to monitor abnormal test results, which includes notification to the physician when necessary, and to complete documentation in accordance with CAP requirements. Ability to lead others, monitor and make work assignments, balance workload, and ensure duties are completed in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work. Knowledge of laboratory requirements to develop, maintain, and issue written instructions and standard operating procedures, including the design of forms that comply with regulatory agencies Assignments. For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity difficulty, range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The lead cytotechnologist provides direction to cytology staff by overseeing daily operations of the cytology laboratory. The incumbent monitors the processing of cytology preparations, including associated quality control measures. The lead cytotechnologist establishes procedure manuals and forms necessary to meet departmental and regulatory needs. The lead cytotechnologist will research, test, validate, and implement new procedures and equipment. The lead cytotechnologist monitors abnormal test results, notifies the physician when necessary, and completes documentation in accordance with CAP requirements. The lead cytotechnologist will monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient workflow. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility; conducting ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work; providing guidance to staff members to include changes in policies and procedures; distributing and balancing workload; orienting and providing on-the-job training for new and current employees; ensuring all training requirements are met; and organizing the work structure of the assigned area. 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-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.