Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, and U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

The Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) demonstrates a working knowledge of the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing, and preparing Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and remains current on the Standard Operating Procedures that govern the processes. Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Serves as a senior expert in inventories, replenishes shortages from sterile supply, inspects for sterility integrity for instrument Sets and expendable items.
• Adheres to and reports any non-compliance towards facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Follows up to ensure RME rotates at the appropriate intervals, communicates needs for restocking outdated supplies, and maintains stock levels of surgical supplies and equipment for wards, clinics. and the operating room.
• Initiates assigned tasks on requests for instrumentation based on the daily schedule of needs or individual requisitions.
• Rounds with supervision to ensure areas have performed daily housekeeping duties to ensure environment of care is maintained.
• Coordinates with those who stock individual surgical case carts with required instruments for each scheduled and emergency OR procedure.
• Ensures Staff operates automation equipment according to facility procedure to prepare, store, retrieve or process information.
• Trains new and/or lower graded employees at the request of supervision.
• Coordinates the assignments given by the supervisor to receive a full range of reusable medical supplies, instruments, and equipment from hospital wards, clinics, and operating rooms.
• Adheres to and reports any non-compliance facility regulations regarding application and removal Of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ensures staff decontaminates reusable items by determining the appropriate method for removing gross contamination by means of manual cleaning procedures.
• Reviews adherence of staff in relation to disassembly, decontamination, and infection control practices of instrumentation in accordance with facility protocol.
• Ensure staff operate automated reprocessing equipment such as the ultrasonic cleaner and washer/disinfectors in accordance with the device Instructions for Use
• Monitors High-Level Disinfection (HLD) procedures by means of manual and automated processes while following the device(s) IFU's.
• Performs random quality audits by examining items and instruments for damage, deterioration, or imperfection. Reports and/or conduct training episodes to address any non-compliances.
• Aids in first echelon maintenance and troubleshooting reprocessing equipment.
• Maintains accurate written records of quality and preventative maintenance of such equipment.
• Ensures that staff follow all device specific Instructions for use (IFU) and set forth Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while conducting assembly and sterilization procedures.
• Conducts audits to review staff adheres to facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Validates skill level of staff to ensure the efficient assembly of a wide variety of instrument trays and sets used for medical procedures including the operating room.
• Ensures quality checks for damaged or missing items of all instrument sets and arranges for replacements, maintenance, or repair as needed.
• Coordinates the workflow for assembly to include prioritization from a variety of sterilization phases for intricate Surgical trays and microsurgery instruments for the operating room (trays contain large numbers of unique, non-interchangeable, specialized surgical instruments of similar appearance, with minor variations in size, conformation, and nomenclature, but with major variation in application).
• Ensures that daily bacterial spore testing and sterilizer controls measures are met to ensure principles of sterilization.
• MST is vigilant on reprocessing steps and on the look-out for cross contamination and determines whether items are free of microorganisms.
• Monitors and reports biological testing for each sterilization cycle
• Accepts accountability for the maintenance of all preparation and packaging quality data.
• Research recommends, and applies to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) standards as they pertain to sterile processing and the distribution of medical supplies.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Scheduled hours will fall between 6:00am - 8:30pm with on call schedules. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 564-00944-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency - English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.
• Experience and/or Education -
  • Experience - Six months of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR
  • 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
  • Experience/Education Combination - Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Grandfathering Provision. A Medical Supply Technician (MST) employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (May 28, 2014) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees 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.
3. Employees who are converted to Title 38 Hybrid status 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 re-entry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-07 level, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.

Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing), GS-07

• Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area; disassembling the RME and determining the correct cleaning method, such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions; inspecting, assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors; performing and documenting daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.

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

Preferred Experience: 1-3 years of sterile processing experience preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings decontamination preparation & packaging clean/sterile supply and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lit. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from reprocessing equipment. Work requires standing and walking during the entire workday. Additionally, frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work
requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.

Environmental Factors: Works in the performance of an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that require normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between the controlled access areas which include contaminated and sterile/clean environments. The employee is required to wear facility issued scrubs in conjunction with applicable PPE as required by the specific area which includes but is not limited to' hair & shoe covers, gowns, gloves, face shield, and safety glasses that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases. The employee can be exposed to hazardous chemicals and vapors. The employee can be exposed to slips, trips, and falls related to wet environments. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and pre-sterilizing equipment.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) employees including satellites;
2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees;
3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees;
4th Area of Consideration - current permanent Federal employees of other Agencies;
5th Area of Consideration - all other applicants

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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.

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

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)

Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee

Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:

• Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please 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
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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