Health Technician - Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician

Summary

These positions are located within the Orthotics and Prosthetics Central Fabrication Laboratory at the VA Portland Health Care System in Vancouver, WA (3 vacancies) and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, WA (1 vacancy).

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/10/2024 to 05/10/2024

• Salary

$58,400 - $75,919 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 8

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Locations

4 vacancies in the following locations:

• Seattle, WA

• Vancouver, WA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• 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

CARZ-12379699-24-AIH

• Control number

786093800

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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

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT that will remain open until all of the positions are filled but no later than May 10, 2024. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be April 19, 2024 with subsequent cut-off dates on the Friday of each subsequent week.

• THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*

The Health Technician

• Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician fabricates, modifies and repairs a wide range of custom prosthetic-orthotic devices including set up and test of myoelectric prostheses, and microprocessor knees, and other advanced technologies under the supervision of a Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist.

Duties include but may not be limited to:

• Fabricates custom prosthetic and orthotic appliances including but not limited to plaster modification and preparation of positive models, blister and drape forming plastic materials, lamination using acrylic resins and carbon fiber materials, cutting, trimming and smoothing definitive products in preparation of fitting onto patients.

• Fabricates, adjusts and repairs all custom prosthetic and orthotic appliances including but not limited to bench alignment procedures, proper ankle and knee component placement, bending metal materials for proper orthotic joint function and shaping and finishing prostheses.

• Chooses materials that are appropriate for patient diagnosis.

• Enters appropriate prosthetic requests for purchase of components selected based on the medical prescription (Rx) for the prosthetic limb or custom orthoses to be fabricated.

• Performs appropriate documentation of workload, procedure coding as part of materials management.

• Maintains lab equipment with respect to maintenance and cleanliness.

• Maintains inventory of fabrication supplies levels, not to exceed thirty days and the requisitioning of supplies and materials as related to scope of practice.

• Follows established regulations and procedures to ensure patient privacy.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday

• Friday; 7:30am

• 4:00pm.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

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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

• 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

• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for this position:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

• AND-

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service and that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position (Health Technician

• Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician). This experience must have required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled (i.e., fabricating, adjusting and repairing all custom prosthetic and orthotic appliances including bench alignment procedures and proper ankle and knee component placement, bending metal materials for proper orthotic joint function, and shaping and finishing prostheses; entering appropriate prosthetic requests for purchase of components selected based on prescription for the prosthetic limb or custom orthoses to be fabricated; reviewing physical assessment data provided by a practitioner to determine technical requirements for the orthosis/prosthesis; maintaining lab equipment and inventory of fabrication supplies). NOTE: Resume must clearly demonstrate this experience to be creditable. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.

• OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: One and one-half years (27 semester hours) of graduate level education that is directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled may be used to qualify for this position (Health Technician

• Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician). This education must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (Copy of transcripts are required at time of application.)

• OR-

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience as described above to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-8 level. (Resume must clearly demonstrate the experience to be creditable and transcripts are required at the time of application.)

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT: This position requires an eligible American Board for Certification (ABC) or Board of Certification (BOC) as a Certified Prosthetic-Orthotic Technician, Certified Orthotic Technician and/or Certified Prosthetic Technician. If selected for the position, the applicant must have an ABC and/or BOC certification OR you must obtain an ABC and/or BOC certification.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Applies Technology to Tasks

• Mechanical

• Quality Assurance

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Duties require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, reaching, carrying supplies and similar activities. Duties require working with machinery including grinders, ovens, drill presses, and other machinery necessary to fabricate custom limbs and braces. Duties require the employee to be able to lift. Occasionally it may be necessary to lift supplies and objects weighing as much as 50 pounds. Requires use of proper body mechanics. The employee must be able to work in stressful situations. Employee must be able to maintain tight deadlines to get Veterans equipment in a fast, efficient manner.

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/.

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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (503) 220-8262.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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

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.

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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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;

• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;

• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and

• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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.