Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Preparing work assignments
• Monitoring clinical performances of ophthalmology staff volunteers and/or students
• Conducting performance appraisals and other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has been satisfied.
• Performs B-scan ultrasonograph to identify intraocular masses or abnormalities.
• Performs flourescein or indocyanine green (ICG) angiography with diagnostic photography or retinal vessels.
• Assists in minor clinical surgical procedures including laser surgery and intravitreal injections.
• Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements and the quality management program assuring corrective action is initiated as needed.
• Assures orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff.
• Develops policies and procedures.
• Manages document control.
• Develops performance standard position descriptions and functional statements.
• Assumes responsibility for professional and administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution.

Work Schedule: Full-time Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 examination.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3g this part.)
• Experience and Education:
  • (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field such as but not limited to nursing medical assistant or health technician. OR
  • (2) Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associates degree in a health care related degree. OR
  • (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for healthcare technicians hospital corpsmen medical service specialists or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces; or (c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting.
• Certification. All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). The COA certification is JCAHPOs entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology).

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 Health Technician (Ophthalmology) GS-9

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-8 grade level.
(b) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level the higher level duties must consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) carries additional responsibilities that involve the oversight of specific services within the ophthalmology clinic. The Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) may assist with technician oversight duties including: making work assignments monitoring work flow providing input on performance resolving daily workplace issues and maintaining efficient flow of patient care. They may provide training to eye care staff students and/or trainees; and may provide input into special advancements promotions and disciplinary actions.
(c) Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance plan organize and coordinate activities of a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) in order to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload monitoring the status and progress of work monitoring accuracy of work etc.;
2. Ability to communicate effectively in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels;
3. Ability to assist in Health Technician (Ophthalmology) development outcome management and strategic planning; and
4. Ability to act as liaison between Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

Physical Requirements: The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) needs to be mobile in that the job requires: sitting walking standing and bending. Work requires trips often from employees work-site to other areas throughout the Medical Center. The Health Technician will be performing eye screening examinations utilizing specialized equipment. The Health Technician must be able to record the findings in the computerized records system and be able to communicate with patients and other staff on a continual basis.