This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.
Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
The duties of this Histopathology Technologist include, but are not limited to: Receiving and/or obtaining specimens using appropriate techniques, maintaining proper identification. Performing all elements of gross examination and sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens. Preparing specimens for analysis according to the specifications of the procedure.
Handling all types of human tissue which may include receiving, checking, accepting, timing, logging, storing and/or shipping, if necessary. Providing technical guidance to ensure all tissues are properly oriented when embedding them, according to established procedures and depending on the type of specimen being prepared (e.g., shave biopsies on edge; core biopsies to demonstrate the maximum amount of tissue).
Assessing and preparing all cytological specimens including sputa, body secretions, fluids, Thin-Preps, and fine needle aspirates. Exercising all required safety guidelines and works with great care in handling the specimens and uses personal protective equipment including face shields, goggles, masks, gloves, aprons, and laboratory coats.
Preparing frozen tissue sections for special immunological studies which includes selecting, freezing, cutting (microtomy) and staining tissue for rush/stat (Frozen Section) exam by the Pathologist. Teaching and training other laboratory personnel to perform cutting and staining techniques as it pertains to the scope of the Histology Department. Maintaining QA files of blocks and slides needed to perform special stains in the laboratory.
Performing complex stains and procedures including, but not limited to, special pretreatment procedures and frozen section microtomy. Troubleshooting and correcting problems with these procedures and maintains records and QA data as necessary. Performing SNOMED code searches of the VISTA database to identify blocks and tissues from cases to be used as positive controls for staining procedures.
Recognizing origin and type of tissues and properly orients and cuts small simple or complex specimens, choosing appropriate microtome knives and section thickness. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-2:30pm, or as deemed appropriate by leadership Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06481 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized at supervisor discretion. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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) Notifications: This position is covered by the OPM General Schedule locality salary rate. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action).
The SF-50 must identify the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. Selectee will be required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process.
IMPORTANT: 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/.
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $72737 – $94563/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-21.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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