FOREIGN SERVICE REGIONAL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST |  |
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
United States Department of State
An Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply
AMENDMENT
Announcement No: FSRMT-03-1
Opening Date: January 7, 2007
Closing Date: Indefinite
Position Title: FOREIGN SERVICE REGIONAL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST
Grade and Starting Salary Range: FP-5, Steps 1 to 14 $41,122 - $60,389
Additional Benefits: Tax free housing overseas; tax free educational allowance overseas, etc. (See "Compensation and Benefits" for more information.)
Number of Vacancies: The Department of State is developing a rank-order list of eligible hires to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Regional Medical Technologist vacancies. The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service.
Area of Consideration: All sources. Applicants must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 21 and 59 and able to qualify for a top secret security clearance.
Location: Individuals must be willing to serve worldwide. Generally, following a brief orientation period at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., newly hired Foreign Service Regional Medical Technologists (FSRMT) will serve an initial two year tour at a Foreign Service post overseas, and will usually spend an average of 60 percent of their careers stationed abroad, moving at two-to-four year intervals. The remainder of their time will be spent at the Department of State in Washington, D.C.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Serving as a Regional Medical Technologist (RMT) in support of the employees of the United States' Government and their eligible family members, a medical technologist may work in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel. Regional Medical Technologist duties include implementing the following procedures at each post of responsibility:
- Manages the health unit laboratory at assigned post and supervises the locally hired medical technologist. Performs testing in Hematology, Chemistry, Parasitology, Immunology, Microbiology, and Urinalysis.
- Oversees the performance of locally hired medical technologists in health unit laboratories at regional posts to assure delivery of reliable laboratory services. These regional posts are within and outside of the country of assigned post.
- Assures that Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendment (CLIA) laboratory standards for operation and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for safety are maintained at assigned and regional posts. Provides training on these laboratory and safety standards.
- Performs routine visitations to regional posts to teach and instruct on laboratory science and food safety, to act as liaison with local laboratories, and to address all laboratory-related issues.
- Assures implementation of programs developed by the Office of Medical Services. Foreign Service Medical Technologists are considered "essential personnel" and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
THE REGIONAL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST CAREER
The Office of Medical Services in the Department of State maintains and promotes the health of employees and their accompanying family members who represent United States Government agencies abroad. The Department assigns Foreign Service Medical Technologists, Medical Officers, Medical Officers/Psychiatrists, and Health Practitioners to selected posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards. The Foreign Service Medical Technologist performs a wide variety of unusual and specialized tests and procedures ranging from difficult to more complex in nature in a variety of fields, such as Parasitology, Microbiology, Mycology, Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Banking and Urinalysis. Duties also include training contract Medical Technologists and developing quality control standards.
Regional Medical Technologists are presently serving in Beijing, Cairo, Dakar, Jakarta, Lagos, Mexico City, Moscow, New Delhi, and Washington, D.C.
While the preference of an applicant for a particular post or area of assignment is given every possible consideration, assignments are dictated by "the needs of the service."
COMPENSATION AND TENURE
The starting salary range for Regional Medical Technologists is FP-05, Step 1 through 14. The salary is dependent upon such factors as graduate level education and directly related specialized experience not used to satisfy qualifications criteria experience. Salary level will be determined at the time of a conditional offer of employment. To be creditable, such education and specialized experience must be in excess of that which is required to qualify as described under Education and Specialized Experience Requirements. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on highest previous rate as a Federal employee.
While the hiring of all medical professionals will start at Step 1, additional steps may be granted based on the following criteria:
EDUCATION
- One in-grade step increase may be given for the first (and only the first) graduate degree below the doctoral level in a work-related field, awarded before the date of appointment.
- Two additional steps may be given for a doctoral degree in a work-related field, awarded before the date of the appointment.
- One step for a masters degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health EXPERIENCE
- One step for 3 to 4 years of closely related experience
- Two steps for 5 to 6 years of closely related experience
- Three steps for 7 or more years of closely related experience
In addition, the Medical Technologist receives at least 12 hours of Category 1 CME credit through an annual State Department-sponsored Continuing Medical Education program.
Regional Medical Technologists are administratively promoted from FP-05 to level FP-04 level after 18 months of satisfactory performance. Beyond the FP-04 level, Regional Medical Technologists are considered for promotion annually in competition with others in their specialty. Foreign Service career candidates are considered for tenure by a tenure board after they acquire a minimum of three years experience in the Foreign Service as a specialist career candidate.
MEDICAL CREDENTIALING & INDEMNIFICATION
Applicants are subject to a medical credentialing process conducted by the Quality Improvement Staff of the Office of Medical Services. Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the general requirements for employment in the Foreign Service, an applicant must have a bachelors degree at the time of appointment, as stipulated below, and be able to pass a writing skills assessment which may be conducted following successful completion of the initial review stage and qualifications review panel. The panel will recommend the most competitive candidates be invited to participate in an oral assessment, and at that time, the candidate will draft an essay, which will evaluate command of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and thought content. This is explained further in the enclosed supplement, "Information and Benefits for Foreign Service Specialists."
| Grade | Salary Range | Education | General Expe- rience |
Specia-lized Expe-rience | Total Expe-rience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FP-05 | $41,122 - $60,389 | BS | 2 (YRS) | 2 (YRS) | 4 (YRS) |
EDUCATION & REGISTRATION
Applicant must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology, clinical laboratory science or chemistry, physical, or biological science from a recognized institution, and four years of laboratory experience with at least 2 years generalist training/experience and two years experience in a designated specialty/subspecialty. Four years of experience must be within the last five years. Applicant must possess a current registration as a Medical Technologist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist with either the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, Inc. (NCA), the American Medical Technologist (AMT), or Health Education and Welfare (HEW).
Applications will not be accepted from Medical Technologists who are not currently registered or certified as indicated above. Certification must be maintained.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must have at least four years of laboratory experience, two years must have been as a generalist in the Clinical Laboratory and include work in Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Banking, Urinalysis, Microbiology, Parasitology, and Serology, with progressively responsible experience as a Medical Technologist. Experience that may be accepted for the remaining two years (e.g., responsible technical experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, pharmaceutical company, or medical research program) must have provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work.
Applicant must have demonstrated skill in performing tests with detail and accuracy and providing information to appropriate individuals as necessary. The work involves exercising a high degree of laboratory management expertise.
Applicant must have knowledge of the following: General Anatomy, Medical Terminology and Laboratory Science; Quality Control procedures and Quality Assurance plans; laboratory equipment used in performing a variety of laboratory tests; skill in performing preventive maintenance and troubleshooting on laboratory equipment; ability to train other medical professionals in laboratory techniques is required. The patient population covered is unique because of background and lifestyle as part of a diplomatic community overseas. This population also differs in terms of clinical and administrative needs and the national security concerns inherent in their employment.
Applicant must be a skilled and experienced Medical Technologist who recognizes and understands the problems of delivering laboratory services to a large group of Americans posted in widely scattered groups of varying size most often where local medical resources are limited or non-existent. Experience in providing laboratory results and assistance via electronic communication such as fax, telephone, telegram and e-mail is preferable. Experience in performing laboratory techniques to diagnose infectious and tropical diseases is required.
Applicant must have the ability to develop, coordinate, and administer health care programs and procedures, including individual and community health promotion and disease prevention programs. Applicant must have the ability to organize and supervise a diverse group of medical technologists who have varying degrees of expertise, education and command of the English language. Understanding the unique cultural differences related to health care delivery in varied countries and the ability to deal with the differences in a positive manner is a necessity.
Candidates must have the capacity to gain the cooperation and confidence of patients, co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates. Individuals must have experience in working in a multidisciplinary practice as well as experience in team building. Effective written and oral communications skills, and the ability to present laboratory findings in a clear and concise manner to medical and non-medical personnel are essential. The demonstrated ability to teach or lecture to groups on laboratory issues is preferred. Computer skills are required.
Purpose: To allow an opportunity to describe your experiences that relate to the personal and professional skills required to accomplish the work of the Foreign Service Medical Technologist.
Instructions: Using plain white paper and either a typewriter or word processor, individually address each of the numbered items listed below, limiting responses to 200 words or less for each item. The writing should be double-spaced. Examples can be drawn from any part of your experience, but must reflect personal accomplishments. You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills required of an experienced Medical Technologist is the ability to write clearly and concisely.
- Laboratory Skills: Describe a specific complex laboratory case, which you have encountered that demonstrates your laboratory skills in identifying and investigating an unexpected laboratory result.
- Organizational Abilities: Describe a specific achievement demonstrating your planning and organizational skills in the setting of a multidisciplinary clinical team or practice.
- Problem Solving and Troubleshooting: Use specific examples to describe your troubleshooting skills involving laboratory instrumentation and procedures.
- Teamwork Abilities: Discuss your abilities to participate as a team member working toward a common goal, as well as examples of your ability to assist a team in the accomplishment of a goal.
- Public Speaking and Teaching Ability: Describe specific examples demonstrating your public speaking and teaching abilities as part of an assignment or work-related task.
The following numbered materials are required for a complete application package. They become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned. All items listed below must be submitted together. To receive these documents via e-mail, please send a request to medhr@state.gov.
- Completed Application for Federal Employment (DS-1950) included.
- Completed Employment Data Form (included). This is an optional form, which requests information to be used for statistical purposes only. This form is found on pages 6 & 7 of form DS-1950.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Official transcripts, plus any other documentation which includes all courses taken, grades, semester or quarter hours earned, cumulative grace point averages for all courses taken, class standing/s, major (copy of Bachelor Degree).
- Copy of current registration as a medical technologist with either the ASCP, NCA, or HEW.
- Proof of Board Certification.
- Completed Supplementary Questionnaire.
These documents should be submitted and addressed to:
U.S. Department of State
Office of Medical Services
Attention: Foreign Service Regional Medical Technologist (FSRMT)
SA-1 Room L-209
2401 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20522
For additional information please refer to our web site at: careers.state.gov or call (202) 663-1084.
Applications, which are received through State's inter-office mail system or mailed in Government-franked envelopes, will not be processed.
While this vacancy announcement shall remain open indefinitely, applications will be considered as the completed package arrives in the Department. The Department of State will be hiring a number of candidates.
Please note that the average processing time for an application is 7-9 months, including the completion of the credentialing, medical and security clearances.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by US Code 310, sons and daughters of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IS COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR ALL WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, RELIGION, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABLING CONDITION, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, MARITAL STATUS, OR PRIOR STATUTORY, CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED ACTIVITY. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES. APPLICANTS REQUIRING A REASONABLE ACCOMODATION FOR ANY PART OF THE APPLICATION OR HIRING PROCESS SHOULD SO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT. ALL DECISIONS FOR GRANTING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATONS ARE MADE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.