Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees of VA Manchester Healthcare System, Department of Veteran Affairs employees and current permanent employees of other Federal Agencies.

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The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Chief, Podiatry Section, which has in-excess of 12,000 patient encounters per year, to include direct and indirect support. Incumbent is delegated authority to provide patient care and support to routine cases and for a variety of specialized procedures for a staff of three Podiatrists. Incumbent receives guidance or direction from practitioners directly in unique cases. Performs a wide range of podiatric treatment procedures and related technician tasks in support of Podiatrists and their assigned functions.

Some of the duties of this position will include:

• Performs a variety of standardized and routine foot care procedures on low risk patients including, but not limited to, nail reduction, debridement of fungal nails, corns and calluses.
• Provides prophylactic instruction on nail and blister care.
• Fits multiple types of orthoses and impression casts feet for orthoses.
• Develops a variety of accommodative devices to correct or alleviate injury or pathologic foot conditions.
• Performs prep and variety of ankle/foot tapings in treatment for injuries.
• Writes history, findings, and treatments in outpatient records in the appropriate format.
• Assists podiatrists in arranging for and obtaining results of x-rays, labs, wound cultures and other diagnostic studies.
• Assists podiatrists in obtaining pathology specimens and pathology reports.
• Receives and prepares patient for examination and treatment.
• Prepares treatment room for appropriate foot procedures, ensures necessary supplies, instruments and materials are present, establishes required instrument field and assists as the podiatrist as directed.
• Sets up instrument trays, finalizes preparation of sterile field, skin prep and draping of patients.
• Instructs patients in self-care specific to treatment involved.
• Assures proper stock levels and care of all instruments used in the Podiatry clinic.
• Ensures proper cleanup and disposal after contaminated procedures.
• Performs various routine and general clinic administrative functions including ordering and
  stocking of supply items and ensuring quality control stock rotation.
• Makes regular inventory and revision of stock to insure current stocking of high demand and readily required items.
• Coordinates communication/correspondent interaction between patient, provider and other medical and non-medical professionals.

Conditions of employment

• 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
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/13/2025.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Individualized Occupational Requirement (IOR): Specialized Experience (for positions as GS-04 and above): IOR are requirements, e.g., experience or education, for particular occupational series or positions within a series and are used in conjunction with a group coverage standard and must be met in addition to the minimum qualification standards.

Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that require application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

~OR~

Education and Training (GS-05): Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.

Basic Minimum Requirements: Experience and Education Requirements:

Specialized Experience GS-5: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience where you applied knowledge of performing phlebotomies on human patients, receiving, accessioning and specimen processing. As well as, collecting chain of custody drug screens, reference laboratory specimen processing, clerical functions and patient testing.

~OR~

EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to this position (i.e. biology, chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy & physiology, medical practices, biological or medical research, physics, mathematics, etc.). This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~

COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as listed above. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the position (i.e. biology, chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy & physiology, medical practices, biological or medical research, physics, mathematics, etc.). This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
PD02536A

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements:
Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures. The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients. The incumbent must have normal color vision, pass mask fit testing, and complete Heartsavers/BLS training.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.