Lead Health Technician Audiology

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Primary responsibility is for patient care supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures patient charting and patient education which do not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative addition the incumbent must be able to mentor and train new health technicians (Audiology).

Major duties/functions include but are not limited to:

• Greet and escort patients
• Triage patients for the audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed
• Patient set up for procedures (e.g. vestibular neurodiagnostic procedures)
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting
• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation
• Perform non-diagnostic otoscopy
• Conduct cerumen management
• Take earmold impressions
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Provide basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers
• Perform listening checks on hearing aids
• Electroacoustic analysis of devices
• Pair hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology
• Program previously stored settings into hearing aids
• Activate remote controls
• Track loaner stock hearing aid inventory
• Process electronic orders; verify incoming shipments for completeness and function
• Package and mail hearing aids and/or accessories
• Process ROES transactions (e.g. certifying and issuing hearing aids/accessories entering orders and repairs)
• Respond to routine patient inquiries and administrative questions (e.g. phone calls/Secure Messages); assist patients/visitors as needed
• Maintain infection control patient safety and clinical supply management (e.g. ordering supplies through ROES)
• Clean and disinfect instrumentation equipment and work surfaces.
• Assist the audiology supervisor/staff audiologist with technician oversight
• Make work assignments and monitor clinic workflow
• Provide input on staff performance and resolve daily workplace issues
• Maintain efficient patient care flow
• Train staff health technicians and/or students and trainees
• Provide input on advancement promotion and disciplinary actions for HTA staff

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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.

• 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.

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.
• Experience and Education-(1) Experience. Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR (2) Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelors degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position. OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry.
• Certification. Certification by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) as a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC) is required for the HTA GS-08 assignment only.
• English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Lead HTA GS-08

Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7)* directly related to the position being filled.

*Examples of duties at the GS-7 level include but are not limited to: completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologists plan of care preparing patients for advanced diagnostic procedures such as evoked potentials and collaborating with audiology team to develop training programs for patients and staff; Ability to mentor and train new HTAs; Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist such as evoked potentials; Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of organization theory and leadership theory.
• Ability to apply principles of leadership during interactions with staff.
• Ability to identify problems in clinic operations consider possible solutions and implement actions approved by supervisor.
• Skill in communicating programmatic decisions to staff