Clarification from the agency

OPEN TO ALL US CITIZENS

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) duties include, but are not limited to:

• Receive contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) in the decontamination area.
• Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method such as, but not limited to, ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical. washers/disinfectors, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents.
• Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization, such as, but not limited to steam, Steris, V-Pro and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors (Medivator & Trophon).
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all process and equipment.
• Work assignments may be in decontamination, prep and pack, Transporting or floating between areas
• Head to toe personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required in many areas
• Detailed, multi-step instructions for cleaning and decontamination of equipment as per manufacturer manuals and VA regulation must be followed at all times
• Delivery of sterilized equipment and pick up of decontaminated equipment throughout the medical center

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday from 2:00pm-10:30pm. Rotating on call for weeknights, weekends, and holidays.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description #: 91156A
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Travel: Not required

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.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• 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 dentification 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 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

NOTE: You must include qualifying specialized experience in mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy format on your resume and indicate Full-Time or Part-Time (if Part-time, must include # of hours worked per week). AND, if you have held a Government position, that position's grade level MUST be listed on your resume

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.

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:

• Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's 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.

English Language Proficiency.MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English

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: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-06 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05 Developmental).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
• Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Preferred Experience: SPS background required, National Certification Preferred

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

Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, sterile supply, and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The MST may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty, and poorly lighted. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for prolonged periods of time, frequent bending and stretching/reaching, walking, and pushing fully-loaded carts which must be negotiated up inclines and over rises, or positioning them. There are frequent trips throughout the facility picking up soiled items or delivering clean/sterile equipment. The employee usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties. There is frequent requirement for lifting individual instruments, instrument trays, and items weighing up to 50 pounds from just above the floor to above the head. The technician transports trays and equipment on a variety of carts that may weigh several hundred pounds when full. Employee must be acutely aware of safety requirements when moving these carts as they have areas that extend outside the visible area that can cause harm to other staff or equipment. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly, and assembly of instrumentation. Computer work and instrument sorting requires periods of intense visual concentration on a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, shoe covers, and other appropriate personal protective equipment that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The employee often works around biohazard materials such as; body fluids, mucous, excretions, and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors may be encountered while decontaminating and disinfecting instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts, and operation of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization equipment.

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, 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.

NOTE: You must include qualifying specialized experience in mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy format on your resume and indicate Full-Time or Part-Time (if Part-time, must include # of hours worked per week). AND, if you have held a Government position, that position's grade level MUST be listed on your resume

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

• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.


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 (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• 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.

Although Hybrid Title 38 occupations follow Title 5 Veterans' preference rules, as required by the Merit Systems Protection Board (Graves v. A, 117 M.S.P.R. 697 (2012)), 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the fiscal year to hybrid title 38 occupations reported among the occupations with the largest staffing shortages. This announcement occupation(s) is reported to be among the largest staffing shortages. Veterans preference does not apply to this job announcement per the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (PL 113-146, dated August 7, 2014) Therefore, Veteran's Preference will not be applied to this posting's applicant scores and selection process.

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