Duties

Summary

The Lead Medical Supply Technician, Sterile Processing Service interprets and follows the policies and procedures of SPS including Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) inventory management areas to perform daily functions within the established guidelines and demonstrates the ability to work effectively and efficiently.

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Responsibilities

You are required to have a broad knowledge and skills in applying various sterilization modalities, high level disinfection, preparation, and decontamination techniques. The incumbent must also have a working knowledge of microbiology, quality control, and distinguishing between various reusable medical equipment.

• Leads a unit or team of employees performing work at the GS-06 level or below; Provides guidance and technician direction for accomplishing the work of the unit or team.
• Works with the Chief, Assistant Chief, and/or Supervisors, in the assignment of functions to team member to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities.
• Assigns work to employees or assigns employees to position. Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform the task.
• Conducts inspection of the decontamination area of SPS to verify that proper techniques and processes per IFU's/SOP's are being followed by staff and that all equipment is working properly.
• Performs quality assurance inspections of instruments and equipment in the sterile preparation area of SPS prior to items being wrapped and sterilized or high level disinfection.
• Inspects to verify that all instrumentation is disassembled to the simplest form.
• Independently prepares the full range of trays and sets necessary to be used in wards, clinic areas, dental clinic and operating rooms.
• Effectively processes and sterilizes a wide variety of instrumentation, to include implant devices, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, and ensures that they are held for the required time post sterilization per regulations.
• Variety of other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 7:30AM - 4:00PM Monday - Friday; Subject to work rotation tours, weekends, holiday's, and on-call based on patient needs.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

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.
• Experience and/or Education:
  • (1) Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR
  • (2) Education. One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; OR
  • (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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).

Grade Determinations:
GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing):
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the
candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
2. Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.
3. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
5. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments.

References: Medical Supply Technician Qualification Standard GS-0622, VA Handbook 5005/83 Part II Appendix G47.

Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying 15-44 pounds; straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required (to be able to effectively clean instrumentation, individuals must be able to hold them with one hand and brush/clean them with the other); walking (up to 4 hours); standing (up to 4 hours); kneeling (less than 1 hour); repeated bending (1-4 hours); climbing legs only (less than 1 hour); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); emotional/mental stability

Education

IMPORTANT: 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

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

• Resume

VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=2850&tkey=&Action=Search .

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• License
• 10-2850c
• Professional Certification
• Resume

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.