Summary

The Lead MRI Technologist provides technical leadership - workflow coordination - and advanced clinical expertise within the MRI section. The incumbent serves as the primary technical resource for MRI technologists - ensures adherence to imaging standards - and supports efficient day-to-day operations. The Lead MRI Technologist works closely with radiologists - supervisors - and multidisciplinary clinical services to deliver safe - timely - and high-quality MRI imaging.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. DRT assignments that include performance of independent duties in this subspecialty require advanced ARRT (MR) certification.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology - Radiography (ARRT) (R)
• Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT) - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - [or Mammography (M) duties performed independently - as applicable]
• Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent [can operate independently] and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination
• [In modalities that require advanced certification - to support their continued development - technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist
• Education: Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the 2 equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program - evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree - accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from [other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a DRT on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the DRT occupation
• For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: DRTs that require a certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• DRTs that require a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• DRTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• DRTs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Employees who are retained as a DRT under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a DRT
• NOTE: Each uncertified VHA DRT who was permanently employed on June 21 - 1986 - and whose competence in the safe administration of ionizing radiation was affirmed - in writing - by a VA licensed physician not later than January 1 - 1987 - is considered fully qualified
• These employees may be promoted - changed to lower grade - or reassigned within the GS-0647 occupational series
• Any employee initially retained in this manner who leaves this job series loses protected status and must meet the full requirements in effect at the time of reentry
• Grade Determinations: Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level (GS 09) Lead Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist
• [The incumbent] functions as a lead DRT for a group of DRTs [at the GS-9 level and below]
• [The incumbent] provides a full range of general radiologic imaging exams - has a broad knowledge of the different modalities within the diagnostic radiologic area - and is accountable to the next higher-level supervisor
• The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): i
• Ability to provide feedback to supervisor on technical aspects of work
• ii
• *Ability to resolve informal employee complaints
• iii
• *Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work and make adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established procedures
• iv
• Ability to perform general and specialized diagnostic radiologic procedures in advanced levels of complex treatment situations Preferred Experience: - Experience with Siemens MRI systems preferred
• - Experience coordinating workflows - training staff - and assisting with departmental operations
• - Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across departments
• - Experience performing QA/QC procedures - coil testing - and troubleshooting equipment issues Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: - Lifting (typically up to 45 lbs or more) - including transferring and positioning patients
• - Pushing and pulling stretchers - wheelchairs - and MRI equipment accessories
• - Prolonged standing and walking for the duration of procedures and throughout the shift
• - Repetitive bending - reaching - twisting - and stooping while positioning patients and coils
• - Manual dexterity and fine motor skills to operate MRI consoles - equipment - and imaging systems
• - Ability to assist patients with limited mobility - including those who are unconscious - sedated - or unable to support themselves

Duties

• *** Eligible for RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE
• Incentive details will be discussed during the interview process *** The duties of the Lead MRI Technologist include - but are not limited to: - Provides daily technical leadership and serves as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting MRI equipment - coils - software - protocols - and workflow issues
• - Directs patient flow to ensure efficient - systematic - and continuous throughput while maintaining quality patient care
• - Assists in the training of technologists - students - new hires - and personnel requiring performance improvement or remediation
• Reports competency concerns to the MRI Supervisor
• - Participates in the rotating after-hours on-call schedule for emergent MRI exams .- Assists with protocol creation - revision - and implementation in collaboration with radiologists and supervisory staff - Monitors image quality and ensures compliance with all technical standards - MRI safety practices - and departmental policies
• - Helps manage add-on requests - acute scheduling challenges - and urgent cases to minimize delays
• - Oversees or assists with inventory management of coils - supplies - contrast media - and MRI accessories
• - Ensures all MRI safety screening - documentation - exam forms - and EMR entries are accurate and complete
• - Assists with incident reviews - safety event documentation - image quality audits - and workflow improvement initiatives
• - Supports supervisory staff with performance feedback - competency assessments - and policy enforcement as delegated
• - Manages technologist timekeeping in VATAS and ensures accurate reporting
• - Oversees image corrections and ensures proper documentation and routing
• - Assists in coordinating scheduled downtime - preventive maintenance - and system upgrades.- Performs MRI exams efficiently while maintaining flexibility for emergency and high-priority patients
• - Confers with radiologists on non-standard or complex exams - determining technical factors - positioning - and protocol adjustments
• - Communicates with radiologists - referring providers - and off-site radiologists for after-hours emergent exams
• - Regularly accesses the electronic medical record to review orders - verify labs - document contraindications - post notes - and flag irregular or unsafe orders
• - Coordinates with Cardiology for pacemaker and ICD imaging - Neurology for DBS systems - Anesthesia for sedated cases - and Interventional Radiology for MSK arthrograms
• - Performs the full range of MRI studies - including cardiac - neuro - body - breast - MSK - prostate - vascular - and research imaging
• At least 25% of workload includes complex examinations such as cardiac MRI - prostate - breast - and research protocols
• - Proficient in cardiac MRI - stress cardiac imaging - perfusion - gating - and use of MRI-compatible monitoring systems and infusion pumps
• - Performs advanced abdominal - pelvic - neuro - and vascular protocols including spectroscopy - perfusion - MRCP - enterography - MRA - MRV - and spine imaging
• - Conducts daily QA/QC checks on scanners and coils
• Monitors hardware and software performance and promptly reports malfunctions
• This is an open continuous announcement until 31 July - 2026
• Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available
• Work Schedule: Work hours will 10am-6:30pm Monday through Friday - and on-call coverage Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized