HEALTH TECHNICIAN (EXTERN/INTERN)

Job Title: HEALTH TECHNICIAN (EXTERN/INTERN)

Department: Department Of Health And Human Services

Agency: Indian Health Service

Job Announcement Number: IHS-11-WR-434920-ESEP/MP

SALARY RANGE:	$25,435.00 - $39,572.00 /year
OPEN PERIOD:	Thursday, February 24, 2011 to Monday, April 11, 2011
SERIES & GRADE:	GS-0640-03/07
POSITION INFORMATION:	Full Time Multiple Appointment Types NTE 120 DAYS
DUTY LOCATIONS:	Few vacancies - Anchorage, AK
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:	All groups of qualified individuals

JOB SUMMARY:

Become a part of the Department that touches the lives of every American!  At HHS you can give back to your community, state, and country by making a difference in the lives of Americans everywhere.  Join HHS and help make our world healthier, safer and better for all Americans. The Indian Health Service is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified Indian applicants and employees who are qualified and suitable for Federal employment. The Indian Health Service (IHS) by law is committed to affording employment preference to American Indian and Alaska Native candidates who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3. In other than the above, the Indian Health Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications are now being accepted for the Indian Health Service Summer 2011 (Approximately May 2011 - September 2011) and Winter 2011 (Approximately December 2011 - January 2012) Externship Program for the Alaska Area Indian Health Service. APPLICANTS WHO ARE INSTERESTED IN BOTH THE SUMMER AND THE WINTER 2011 EXTERNSHIP PROGRAMS MUST INDICATE ON THEIR RESUME. Duty locations are usually in Anchorage, Alaska. The number of positions will depend on funding. Salary plus 10.56% Cost of Living Allowance for Anchorage, Alaska. Occupations may also vary from what is listed in this announcement. POSITION DETAILS: Salary range: $25,435.00 - $39,572.00 Promotion potential: none  Merit Promotion Position: Yes Travel Required:  No Supervisory/Managerial Position: No Relocation Expenses Paid:   Airline expenses may be paid. Expenses will be paid in the interest of the government and not in the interest of the selected employee.  Is position covered by PL 101-630? No (generally not covered) Is drug testing required? No Is government housing available? No Is this a bargaining unit position? No Who may apply section This is being filled under the Excepted Service.  The IHS Extern Program is an opportunity to gain hands-on instructive experience in a clinical setting before you graduate.  IHS externships are available to students who are: US citizens - permanent resident aliens and other non citizens are not eligible to apply Enrolled in an academic health or allied health profession program or career track In good academic standing - undergraduate or graduate students with a 2.0 grade point average or above Priority consideration will be given in the following order:   a. IHS Scholarship Recipient, Section 104, Section 112, & Section 217   Health Professionals; b. Health Professionals, Non-IHS Scholarship/Native American Indian; c. Health Professionals, Non-IHS Scholarship/Non-Indian d. IHS Scholarship Recipient, Section 103 Pre-graduate e. IHS Scholarship Recipient, Section 103 Preparatory

KEY REQUIREMENTS: Position subject to background investigation. As part of the pre-employment process, fingerprint checks are required. Airline Expenses may be paid.

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Duties

Additional Duty Location Info:

Few vacancies - Anchorage, AK

Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or result in you losing consideration for the job.
Students will be assigned to an IHS healthcare delivery system (IHS clinic, Urban Indian clinic or health program, Tribal clinic or health program) and will participate in a full range of activities in their respective health disciplines or fields.  The duties will vary depending on the profession or field entered, year in school, prior experience, etc.

• Gain working knowledge and experience in your chosen health profession or field with Indian Health Service during non-academic periods for up to 120 work days per calendar year,
• Assist preceptor in daily duties in field of their academics,
• Assist and prepare reports on assigned projects.
• Assist on day to day administrative operations by performing tasks related to their office department functions.

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Qualifications and Evaluations

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Salary is based on experience and the number of completed semester hours in your academic program according to Personnel Standards, rules and regulations. The ratings listed below are proposed grade levels based on the number of credit hours completed. The human resources office responsible for the extern position will determine your grade level. 

Minimum Qualifications for GS-3 level: completed 30 semester hours/45 quarter hours and enrolled in coursework leading to a degree in one of the disciplines listed below.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-4 level: completed 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours, and enrolled in coursework leading to a degree in one of the disciplines listed below.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-5 level: completed bachelor's degree (120 semester hours/180 quarter hours) and enrolled in coursework leading to a degree in one of the disciplines listed below.

Minimum Qualifications for the GS-7 level: completed first year of graduate school (18 semester hours of graduate education, 27 quarter hours of graduate selection) and enrolled in coursework leading to a degree in one of the disciplines listed below.

This position has specific educational requirements.  To qualify for this position, you must possess the required education as noted under the Qualifications section of this announcement.

Extern Qualifications:

1. Student must have completed the 1st year of college and is pursuing a Health Profession degree, with documented enrollment for Fall

2. a) Undergraduate Student: Must have a grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale or equivalent; b) Graduate Student: Must have a grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.

3. Must not be on academic probation or discontinued from the IHS Scholarship program for any reason.

4. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement.

To qualify based on education, submit copy of transcript or list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking.   Application materials will not be returned.  Submit proof of your education with a transcript or list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade point average or class ranking.  We will be unable to return these to you.  You can receive credit for education received outside the United States if you provide evidence that it is comparable to an accredited educational institution in the United States when you apply.

Per PHS instruction 338-3-50(d): "Individuals graduating from approved schools of pharmacy within the last 12 months may be appointed pending licensure/registration.  Such appointments may not exceed six months without the employee obtaining licensure/registration." 

If Positive Education Requirements- This position has specific educational requirements. To qualify for this position, you must possess the required education as noted underQualifications..

You must meet the requirements of the job by this date: Monday, April 11, 2011
As per the IHS Excepted Service Hiring Plan: Current employees and eligible applicants are considered under merit promotion only, unless they provide an appropriate Standard Form (SF)-50, "Notification of Personnel Action," and indicate under which plan they are applying.  Please indicate on your resume and during the online assessment process which hiring plan you want to be considered under: Merit Promotion and/or the IHS Excepted Service Hiring Plan.  See jobs@ihs.gov for more details.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

The HHS Careers system simplifies the Federal application process by replacing the former KSA job-element statements with on-line self-assessment questions. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications requirements will be invited to complete an on-line questionnaire assessing the following: 

1. TECHNICAL COMPETENCE

2. SELF-DEVELOPMENT

3. INITIATIVE

4. COMMUNICATION

5. JOB KNOWLEDGE

6. TEAMWORK

7. PROBLEM SOLVING

If found qualified, your score will range from 70-100 points (not including points that may be assigned for Veterans' Preference).  We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire.  If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.  You will be deemed well qualified if you score 85 and above.

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Benefits and Other Info

BENEFITS:

The federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Additional selections of candidates may be possible within 90 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement, for filling additional or similar positions. However if there are no qualified Indian Preference candidates on the Certificate the vacancy must be reannounced.
Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957.
If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a fingerprint check.  Fingerprint results must be cleared prior to hire.  You will receive instructions on how to obtain and submit fingerprints. 
After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. 
The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position.   If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work.  If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges.
IHS - Operated Properties are tobacco free

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How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes the following parts:

1. Assessment Questionnaire
2. Résumé
3. Required Documents (Specified in the Required Documents section of this job announcement. An applicant may not be considered if proper documentation is not received.)

Use Application Manager for convenience and quickest processing. Track your progress to a Complete Application Package using the My Application Packages checklist and status displays in Application Manager. Your Application Package status must be Complete by, Monday, April 11, 2011, the closing date of this announcement.
Option A:  Application Manager (preferred method)
To begin, choose one of these options:

1. If your résumé is going to come from the USAJOBS Resume Builder, you begin the process by clicking the Apply Online button near the bottom of this page. Your résumé will be attached only to the Application Package you complete and Submit immediately after you click the Apply Online button for this job announcement, not to any Application Packages you may already have created.
2. If your résumé is going to be one you prepared outside of USAJOBS Résumé Builder, click this link to begin the process Online QuestionnaireTo return to Application Manager at any time, simply go to https://applicationmanager.gov/  

Option B:  Fax
If it is not possible for you to use Application Manager (you have a disability or do not have access to the internet), you can write your answers on paper.  Follow these steps:

1. Print a copy of this job announcement so that you can read the questions offline. View Occupational Questionnaire  Obtain and print a copy of the OPM Form 1203-FX, which you will use to provide your answers. You can obtain the form at this URL http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf or by calling USAJOBS by Phone at (703) 724-1850; after the introduction, press 1, and listen for instructions.
2. You may submit the OPM Form 1203-FX (hard copy questionnaire), résumé, and/or any supporting documents by fax.

• If you are faxing a Form 1203-FX, do not use a separate cover sheet. Simply make sure the Form 1203-FX is on top of any other documents you are faxing.
• If you are faxing any documents without the Form 1203-FX on top, always use the official cover sheet which is here --http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf -- and be sure to fill it out completely and clearly.  The fax number is 1-478-757-3144.  Feed all documents into your fax machine top first so that we receive them right-side up.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office, JEAN FASSLER, (907)729-1341, JEAN.FASSLER@IHS.GOV.  "The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis."
Please contact Jean Fassler at (907) 729-1341 for questions regarding the IHS Extern Program.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

You must provide the required documents listed below during the online application process either through the document upload process or fax using instructions outlined in Section B above. If any of the following are missing when the announcement closes we will deem your application incomplete:
To apply for the IHS externship, you must provide the required documents listed below during the online application process either through the document upload process or fax using instructions outlined in Section B above. If any of the following are missing when the announcement closes we will deem your application incomplete: 

• ___Resume or Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612) (civil service applicants only)
• ___Extern Site Preference Request form (IHS-856-16) (PDF - 32KB)
• ___Official transcripts --these documents will be used to credit your education and are a basis for determining salary
• ___Request for Extern Travel Reimbursement form (IHS-856-17) (PDF - 25KB)
• ___Proof of immunity to measles and rubella — applicants who are not immune and refuse the recommended vaccine can be reassigned or removed from the service
• ___Proof of possession of a Social Security number and driver's license
• ___Documentation of enrollment in the coming Fall term
• ___Indian Preference applicants – If claiming preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the current Form BIA - 4432 (expiration date 8/31/2011), "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only."  Indian preference will not be given unless the current form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA official of tribal enrollment records, documentation of lineal descent, state or academic records that document you possess one-half degree Indian blood from a tribe indigenous to the United States, as well as official records that establish your degree of Indian blood, such as census records. The applicant must also complete the family history chart if necessary.  (See the form for detailed instructions for the completion of the BIA-4432). Current IHS employees with a BIA form on file in their Official Personnel Folder are required to submit a copy of that form with their application.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

JEAN FASSLER Phone: (907)729-1341 TDD: (301)443-6394 Email: JEAN.FASSLER@IHS.GOV

Agency Information: Indian Health Service HR Center 4141 Ambassador Drive Suite 300 Anchorage, AK 99508

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement via email that your submission was successful. Approximately 45 days following the closing date of the announcement, you will receive a notice of rating with the final disposition of your resume. To protect your privacy, scores of resumes are not provided by phone.