About this role

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/27/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Individual Occupational Requirements - Basic Requirements Education: Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

[Note: You must include a copy of your transcripts. If you do not submit a copy, your applicant will be found ineligible] Certification. In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the degree must be from an approved Pathologists' Assistant training program. The academic and practical training must consist of graduation from a NAACLS approved educational training program and have obtained a passing score on the ASCP pathologists' assistant board examination.

You must also qualify based on your experience/education described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of gross anatomy and gross pathology; recognize reliably pathologic abnormalities in a wide variety of surgical and clinical tissue specimens; skill in the performance of permanent and frozen section techniques and standard histochemical and immunohistochemical stains; knowledge of immunology and cell biology to comprehend complex theories and reactions related to immunohistochemistry; use and maintain complex instruments (e.g.

microtome, cryostat, cameras, specimen radiography system, and automated tissue processor); utilize basic computer systems and functions; perform quality assurance procedures, laboratory accreditation requirements, and troubleshooting for the surgical pathology section; handle and manage anatomic pathology safety and hazard requirements and procedures; interpret regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements, medicolegal responsibilities, and statutes governing operations.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related to the work of the position. (Transcripts must be submitted). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education to qualify at the GS-11 level. This can be determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the required experience and education as a percentage of the total required. The total percentage must equal 100 percent. Only education more than the first 18 semester hours (i.e. beyond the first-year graduate level education) is creditable towards meeting the specialized experience requirement.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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: The work requires regular and recurrent long periods of standing (up to 7 hours per day) to perform macroscopic examinations and teaching others to do so. Recurring bending over occurs frequently when performing frozen sections, changing waste containers at workstation and cleaning contaminated surfaces.

Occasional lifting of heavy items such as 5-gallon liquid chemical containers, body parts and deceased patients are required by the incumbent. The work involves utilizing a computer, visual acuity, and above average manual dexterity and the use of both hands. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations.

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/.

Source listing: usajobs