Announcement No.  VAD-DR-03-050

Opening Date: June 11, 2003

Closing Date:  June 30, 2003

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

HISTOPATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN, GS-646-8

SALARY:   $36,049 - $46,865 PER ANNUM

LOCATION:  VA North Texas Health Care System, VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

NUMBER OF VACANCIES:  One (1)

WHO MAY APPLY:  All qualified applicants.

NOTE #1:  This is a Career-Conditional (Permanent) appointment.

NOTE #2:  Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid.

NOTE #3:  Applicants applying under this announcement WILL NOT be considered
under Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA), Reinstatement, Transfer,
Schedule A, or other direct hire authorities.  If you wish to be considered
under one of these appointment authorities, please contact the Human
Resources Office in the facility where you wish to be employed.

NOTE #4:  If you are selected for this position, you may be required to
undergo a physical examination.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS:  In accordance with 18 USC 1719 and USC 3201, the use of
postage paid government envelopes for filing job applications is a violation
of federal law and regulations.  APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED USING POSTAGE PAID
GOVERNMENT ENVELOPES, FAX, OR E-MAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

APPLICATION PACKAGE (INCLUDING TRANSCRIPT, IF REQUIRED) MUST BE RECEIVED BY
THE CLOSING DATE.  YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMAITON:
ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER, OCCUPATIONAL TITLE, LOCATION OF THE POSITION AND THE
GRADE LEVEL FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING.  REQUIRED FORMS MAY BER DOWNLOADED
FROM THE OPM WEBSITE AT WWW.OPM.GOV/FORMS  OR
APPLICATION MATERIALS MAY BE REQUESTED FROM THE VA NORTH TEXAS HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM DELEGATED EXAMINING UNIT (VANTHCS DEU).  APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST
BE SUBMITTED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

DUTIES OF THE POSITION:  The position is in the Histology Unit of the
Anatomic Pathology Section, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service.
Incumbent's duties consist of receiving specimens, and accessioning specimen
and patient data into histology logbook.  Processing tissues, using
automatic tissue processing equipment; orientation, positioning, and
embedding of tissue samples using paraffin or other less commonly employed
embedding media; sectioning of blocks of paraffin-embedded tissues; staining
of tissue sections with routine stains; immunohistochemical staining.
Maintaining accuracy of tissue/patient identification throughout the special
handling procedures.  Using independent judgement and close interaction with
the supervisor, pathologists and residents to ensure that the final product
is of appropriate quality.  Incumbent properly stores and safely handles all
chemicals.  Using safely and appropriately a variety of instruments
including, but not restricted to, analytical balances, pH meters, automatic
tissue processors, microtomes, automatic stainer, cryostats, automatic
coverslipper, photographic equipment, conventional light microscopes,
fluorescence microscopes, immuno stainer, cytospins, and various
computer-assisted work stations.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  You must be a citizen of the United States.  In
addition, applicants must meet the following basic requirements:  

EXPERIENCE:  Applicants must demonstrate 1 year of specialized experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:  Experience which has equipped the applicant with
the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the
duties of the position, and that is in Anatomical pathology technician work
in:
A.	Cutting and staining very thin sections of human tissue specimens
for microscopic examination.
B.	Testing and examining body fluids, etc., for abnormalities in cell
structure.
To be creditable, this experience must be comparable to the next lowest
level positions in Federal service.

OR

EDUCATION: One and one-half (1 1/2) years of graduate education, which is
directly related to the work of the position meets the requirements for a
GS-8.

FOREIGN EDUCATION:  To receive credit for education completed outside the
U.S., you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private
organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational
credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that
gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:  If you are appointed to a direct patient-care
position, you must be proficient in spoken and written English as required
by 38 US 4105(c).

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE:  The required amount of experience will not in itself
be accepted as proof of qualification for a position.  Your record of
education and experience must clearly demonstrate that you have the ability
to perform the duties of the position.  The primary consideration is the
quality and level of experience.

DRUG TESTING - All non-VA applicants tentatively selected for VA employment
in any 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 the VA.

BASIS OF RATING - There is no written test.  You will be rated based on the
extent, quality, and currency of your education, experience, and training
relevant to the duties of the position.  Such ratings will be based on your
statements in the application and on any additional information obtained by
our office.

LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY - Eligibility established under this announcement will
be for this announcement only.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - All qualified applicants will receive
consideration for appointment without regard to race, religion, color,
national origin, sex, political affiliation, age or any other non-merit
factor.

HOW TO APPLY - Do not submit letters of recommendation; performance
appraisals; position descriptions; certificates of training not required to
qualify; photographs; publications; etc.  Please submit only the items
listed below:

1.	Your choice of:  Resume or an Optional Application for Federal
Employment (OF-612).  If you are submitting a resume it must include the
following:

A.	Announcement No. VAD-DR-3-050, Histopathology Technician
B.	Full legal name and complete mailing address
C.	Daytime as well as evening telephone numbers, including area code
D.	Country of Citizenship
E.	Social Security Number
F.	For experiences most relevant to the position, include name and
address of employer, job title, starting and ending dates (month and year),
average hours worked per week, supervisor's name and telephone number, and a
description of your duties.  If the position is (was) with the Federal
government, state series and grade or pay level.  Indicate if we may contact
your current supervisor.
G.	For all colleges/universities attended, provide name, location and
dates of attendance.  Specify type and date of degree awarded, if any.
H.	Description of training honors awards, recognition, license or
certification relevant to the position.

1.	Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment.  THIS FORM IS
REQUIRED.  

2.	College transcript or vocational training certificates and licenses,
if any.

3.	Rating Factors for Histopathology Technician (see attached).

4.	If you are claiming veterans' preference, please provide a copy of
your DD-214(s) documenting your type of discharge and periods of service.
If you are claiming 10 point veterans' preference, please submit Application
for 10 Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) with the required documentation.


FOR APPLICATION INFORMATION:  You may call Donna Robinson at (214) 857-1681
or e-mail at Donna.Robinson@med.va.gov. (WHEN E-MAILING OR CALLING TO
REQUEST AN APPLICATION PACKAGE, YOU MUST BE SPECIFIC REGARDING THE
ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER, OCCUPATIONAL TITLE AND LOCATION OF THE POSITION FOR
WHICH YOU ARE REQUESTING APPLICATION MATERIALS). 


APPLICATIONS MUST BE MAILED TO:

Department of Veterans Affairs
North Texas Health Care System
Delegated Examining Unit (05T)
4500 South Lancaster Road
Dallas, Texas 75216


RATING FACTORS FOR HISTOPATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN, GS-646-8

For each of the following knowledges, skills, and/or abilities, please
indicate your major accomplishments as they relate to the above position.
Since your rating will be based primarily on your responses, please be
specific for actual duties performed or education received.  Each item will
be evaluated separately, so please do not provide one narrative summary
covering all items.

1.	Ability to operate, calibrate, perform preventive maintenance, and
troubleshoot a wide variety of histology laboratory instruments.

2.	Knowledge of tissue processing techniques.
	 
3.	Skill in orienting and positioning minute and delicate tissue
specimens.

4.	Ability to operate and maintain a microtome and cryostat.

5.	Ability to work independently and to complete tasks within time
constraints.


PRIORITY CONSIDERATION:  

Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career
Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the
position to receive consideration for special priority selection.  CTAP and
ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they attain an
eligibility rating of 90.0 or higher, not including points for veteran's
preference, from the facility with the vacancy.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they
meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605 (a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330l.704 for
ICTAP.  This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most
recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF50 noting
current position, grade level, and duty location.  Please annotate your
application to reflect that you are applying as CTAP or ICTAP eligible.

DISPLACED AND SURPLUS APPLICANTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL PRIORITY
SELECTION SHOULD SEND THEIR APPLICATIONS AND APPROPRIATE INFORMATION AS
CITED ABOVE DIRECTLY TO THE VA FACILITY IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUTING AREA WHERE
THE VACANCY EXISTS.

Samuel E. Jones, MS, HT(ASCP)HTL, QHIC
Supervisor Anatomic Pathology
VA North Texas Health Care System	
4500 South Lancaster Road / 113
Dallas, Texas 75216
Office: 214-857-0659
Pager: 214-759-3366
Fax: 214-302-1457
E-mail: samuel.jones2@med.va.gov