Health Technician (Audiology)

Summary

The Audiology Health Technician positions are designed to aid the audiologists in meeting the clinical needs of the patient population served in the clinic. Each health technician functions as a member of the Audiology staff to provide health care support.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/28/2024 to 07/08/2024

• Salary

$49,025 - $63,733 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 7

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Caldwell, ID

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0640 Health Aid And Technician

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSV-12461568-24-SRL

• Control number

797619800

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• When it is necessary for a hearing aid to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, the health technician prepares all necessary paperwork and records and packages and ships the instrument. The incumbent makes appropriate entries in the clinic's record tracking system in order to ensure that the hearing aid is properly tracked during the repair process. The health technician independently resets the fitting parameters of programmable hearing aids that have been returned from the manufacturers for repairs. Uses the most advanced hearing aid fitting technology and software to prepare the repaired hearing aids for shipping to the patient.

• Independently makes minor programming adjustments, within clinic guidelines, to increase or decrease volume, run feedback manager, add or remove program options from the programming button, and consults the audiologists for any more detailed programming changes.

• Makes minor shell changes and external component repairs. Determines if shell or programming adjustments are needed to solve patient fit problems. Compares electroacoustic output curves to NOAH program, makes minor adjustments to bring within compliance or sends out for repair. Independently determines the patient's need for loaner hearing aids based on the patient's degree and nature of hearing loss, audiological profile and hearing aid fitting rationale data.

• Independently determines patient need for assistive devices, orders devices such as Pocket Talkers and TV devices from the Denver Acquisitions and Logistics Center and instructs patients in proper use and care. Troubleshoots assistive devices to determine if

a replacement is needed.

• Responsible for entering ROES orders for hearing aid repairs, batteries and clinic supplies as necessary. Tracks and certifies hearing aid orders as they are received, as well as taking necessary steps for correcting errors or changes as they occur.

• Maintains an adequate supply of materials and other supplies to meet the clinic needs. Maintains stock of supplies, forms, batteries,

and impression boxes in all clinic rooms. Works with Staff from Material Management to insure that supplies are ordered and re-stocked.

• Maintains stock of loaner hearing aids and pocket-talkers and insures they are in good working order at all times. Receives turned in hearing aids, removes from veteran's record, and determines if the aids can be used as loaners or turned in for salvage. Sends potential loaner aids for refurbishment to insure that they are fully operational.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am- 4:00 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

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

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.

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• 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.

• 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).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

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 bachelor's 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

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).

English Language Proficiency:

HTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

GS-7 Health Technician-Audiology Grade Determinations:

Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.

AND

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

(a) Ability to mentor and train new HTAs.

(b) Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist, such as evoked potentials.

(c) Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology.

References: VA Handbook 5005/143 PART II APPENDIX G70

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending, and carrying light items such as incoming mail, papers, books. Occasionally a piece of equipment would need to be moved. A significant amount of walking is also required to interact with patients and other services.

Education

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/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

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.

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.