Health Technician (Optician)

The Dayton VA Medical Center's Surgical Service- Eye Care is recruiting for a well-qualified Health Technician (Optician), responsible for ophthalmic dispensing and optical services for Veterans; supporting the eye-care team by translating prescriptions into accurately measured, ordered, verified, fitted, adjusted, and repaired eyewear. Work is primarily in the Medical Center optical and eye-care settings and Community Based Outpatient Clinics, inpatient areas, or other VA locations. The primary purpose of the position is to independently provide direct optical services that promote safe, accurate, timely, and patient-centered vision care. The employee performs complex ophthalmic measurements; assists Veterans with frame and lens selection within VA eligibility and benefit parameters; places and tracks eyewear orders; verifies completed eyewear against prescriptions and applicable tolerances; performs dispensing, adjustment, troubleshooting, and repair; documents services in the electronic health record; and coordinates with VA staff, Prosthetics, optical fabrication laboratories, vendors, and other stakeholders to resolve problems affecting eyewear delivery. The work requires extensive practical knowledge of ophthalmic optics, spectacle lens design and materials, frame construction and fitting, optical measurement techniques, prescription interpretation, optical tools and equipment, patient communication, infection prevention, and VA optical processes. The employee independently resolves most routine and non-routine optical dispensing problems, recognizes when visual complaints or clinical findings require referral to an optometrist or ophthalmologist, and uses sound judgment to ensure Veterans receive eyewear that is accurate, comfortable, functional, and consistent with the authorized prescription and benefit. Duties include, but are not limited to: Interprets spectacle prescriptions, including sphere, cylinder, axis, prism, add power, and lens-design requirements. Obtains and documents pupillary distances, optical-center measurements, segment/progressive fitting heights, frame dimensions, and other fitting measurements. Uses lensometry and other optical devices to verify completed eyewear against the prescription, optical tolerances, and frame/lens condition before dispensing. Reviews eyewear orders for accurate prescription information, measurements, frame selection, and fabrication specifications before submission. Maintains accurate, timely electronic health record documentation of measurements, orders, dispensing, adjustments, repairs, and patient education. Performs quality checks on eyewear and optical processes; identifies recurring measurement, ordering, fabrication, or fitting discrepancies for corrective action. Educates Veterans on authorized frame and lens options, adaptation, proper eyewear use, cleaning, care, and when to return for follow up. Communicates professionally with Veterans regarding eyewear status, pickup, delays, remakes, repairs, eligibility-related questions, and next steps. Coordinates with eye-care providers, Prosthetics, laboratories, vendors, and support staff to resolve order, fabrication, delivery, repair, and replacement issues. Fits, aligns, adjusts, and repairs spectacles to correct comfort, stability, and optical-alignment problems using appropriate tools and techniques. Troubleshoots complaints involving blur, distortion, adaptation difficulty, poor fit, prescription discrepancies, or fabrication defects; selects appropriate correction, remeasurement, repair, or remake. Recognizes complaints inconsistent with routine optical problems and promptly refers Veterans to an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or appropriate clinical staff under local procedures. Travel from 25% to 75%, depending on actual position placement (please see below under 'Work Schedule'). Travel will be to the Richmond IN, the Lima OH, the Springfield OH, and the Middletown OH Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday. This announcement includes six positions: five full-time positions, and one part-time position. The five full-time positions are scheduled for 40 hours per week. Tours of duty will be established based on operational and patient-care needs and may be either 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid lunch period. The part-time position is scheduled for 20 hours per week, with a variable tour of duty based on operational needs. Work may be scheduled Monday through Friday, no more than three days per week, with start and end times falling between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Travel: Travel to VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) is required. Four of the full-time positions may require up to 25% travel. One full-time position and the part-time position may require up to 75% travel. Specific work locations, tours of duty, and travel requirements will be determined based on the needs of the service. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Optician)/PD94086A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/09/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: comprehensive practical knowledge of ophthalmic dispensing and optical technology sufficient to independently perform the full range of duties associated with complex spectacle prescriptions and Veteran optical services; knowledge of veteran optical benefits, ordering processes, fabrication-laboratory requirements, quality tolerances, warranty/remake practices, and documentation requirements; work involving varied and complex combinations of prescription interpretation, optical measurement, frame selection, lens design, fabrication requirements, verification, fitting, adjustment, repair, troubleshooting, documentation, and patient communication. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required at this grade level only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. If you are basing your qualifications on education, a transcript MUST be included with your application, prior to the closing of the announcement. It is the applicant's responsibility to submit a complete application package. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education listed. Preferred Experience: One year of specialized experience providing optical or ophthalmic support services. Specialized experience includes interpreting spectacle prescriptions; obtaining ophthalmic measurements such as pupillary distance, optical center, segment or progressive fitting heights, and frame measurements; assisting patients with frame and lens selection; entering, reviewing, and tracking eyewear orders; verifying completed eyewear using lensometry or other optical measuring devices; fitting, adjusting, and repairing spectacles; troubleshooting eyewear, prescription, fit, or fabrication problems; providing patient education regarding eyewear use, care, and adaptation; and documenting optical services in an electronic health record or other approved system. Selective Placement Factor. The employee has demonstrated experience performing ophthalmic dispensing duties that include interpreting spectacle prescriptions, obtaining precise optical measurements, and fitting and adjusting prescription eyewear. Quality Ranking Factor. The employee has demonstrated experience independently performing a broad range of ophthalmic dispensing services for patients with routine and complex spectacle prescriptions, including advanced optical measurements, progressive or multifocal lens fitting, eyewear verification using lensometry, complex frame adjustments and repairs, and troubleshooting prescription, fitting, adaptation, or fabrication problems. 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/. The employee is required to operate a government-owned/-leased motor vehicle to properly carry out their assigned duties. You may be required to provide their license at the time of interview. A clean driving record report from the DMV and a copy of their driver's license will be required during the online onboarding process. Please provide your driver's license number, issuing state and expiration date within your hiring assessment. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You must have a Drivers License for this position. Physical Requirements: Due to a requirement for a Drivers License, there is a physical requirement for this position. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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/.