Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Assistant Chief Job in Lexington, KY

Vacancy No. CBTG-12732061-25-ZD Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $76,371.00 to $99,280.00 Grade 9 to 9
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/5/2025 Close Date 5/19/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Lexington, KY


Summary

The Assistant Chief contributes to the oversight of all supervisions, administrative management, and direction of Sterile Processing Service. The incumbent serves as the supervisor for SPS and oversees all decontamination, sterilization, and distribution of the facility critical and semi-critical Reusable Medical Devices (RMD). The incumbent assists the Chief SPS in providing total RMD service and support to all staff at the facility and maintaining an accurate instrument tracking system.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. Refer to How You Will Be Evaluated section for additional information

Duties

Duties include but not limited to:

  • The Assistant Chief plans, develops, directs and maintains a Quality Control Program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological testing, product assessment and related means, providing Quality Assurance (QA) reports upon need. Incumbent conducts investigations of any discovered deficiencies, assures that corrective action plans are created, and monitors program areas to ensure resolution of corrective action plans. Incumbent establishes schedules and deadlines for completion of actions, reports implementation efforts and results, and maintains monthly and annual tracking reports.
  • Evaluates the effectiveness of the SPS Program by monitoring functions and reporting results through the Sterile Processing Accountability Tool.
  • The incumbent plans, organizes, directs, trains, and coordinates all activities associated with a comprehensive processing and decontamination support operation. Responsible for ensuring the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are written to follow the manufacturer's Instructions For Use (IFU).
  • The Assistant Chief must issue, adapt, implement, and maintain local SPS policies and procedures as applicable to specific facility/system programs.
  • Serves as an alternative board member of the VISN 9 RMD Management Board for the Chief SPS.
  • The Assistant Chief prepares and evaluates future scheduling projections, anticipating future workload requirements to forecast appropriate staffing levels.
  • Works closely with Logistics Service to monitor inventory levels to identify and take corrective action on matters relating to potential inventory shortages created because of additional case volume.
  • Incumbent manages the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) for all equipment assigned to SPS such as sterilizers, washer/decontamination, and ultra-sonic machines through the nonexpendable property program for the assigned facility/system and requests replacement of all equipment under their preview as needed.


Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf


Medical Supply Aide and Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Supply-Aide-Career-Flyer.pdf


Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 30501-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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 probationary 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.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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.

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.
  • 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 7407(d)
  • 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.
Grandfather 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: GS-09 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician - Assistant Chief:
Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-8. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Serving as a first-level supervisor or Lead MST responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work; assigning tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform decontamination of scopes and instrumentation in the work area; instructing employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures and goals; referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management or supervisors; resolving informal complaints of employees and dealing with union representatives on personnel matters; providing technical supervision or direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements.
  • Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
  • Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements.
  • Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.
  • Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties, including assigning, planning and evaluating work, recommending awards, approving leave, identifying training needs, and resolving staff issues.
  • Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.
  • Ability to manage, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget.
Preferred Experience:
  • Industry Certification such as H.S.P.A
  • Bachelors Degree
  • Minimum of 2 years experience in Sterile Processing
  • Previous managerial experience
Note: You must provide detailed information of your experience performed. Information such as "I was a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)" is insufficient to determine your qualifications. Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS9.

Physical Requirements:
  • In addition to management responsibilities performed in an administrative office, work can be 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 lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from reprocessing equipment. The 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 manipulation, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.
  • 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 shields, and safety glasses that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items and the hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses. 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 devices. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts, and operation of reprocessing equipment.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-9 level.

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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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.

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

  1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
  2. All other VA employees.
  3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
  4. All other applicants.
Note: A current (2025) non-award SF-50 must be submitted for verification of eligibility for facility, VA and Federal Employee status.
Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.
Note: This position is one of the hybrid title 38 occupations reported among the occupations with the largest staffing shortages and, therefore, under 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the Fiscal Year 2025.

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.

Required Documents

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

  • Resume


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)
  • Other (1)
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

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.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/19/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12732061.

  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Agency contact information

Zoie Dalton
Address
Lexington VA Health Care System
2250 Leestown Road
Lexington, KY 40511
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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