Clarification from the agency

This is an External Announcement open to all US Citizens. Current Permanent Federal Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other Federal Agencies must apply under the Internal Announcement# CBTB-12718407-25-CDP to receive Internal Consideration. In accordance with Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) Bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages dated 10-01-2024, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7412, Veteran's Preference will not be applied to this occupation.

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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

The Incumbent is responsible for assisting the Sterile Processing Service Chief.
Major duties of the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief include, but are not limited to:

• Obtains a VA recognized sterile processing certification no later than 1 year.
• Manages SPS as a service line within the VA medical facility using a planned, implemented and evaluated Quality Management System (QMS) Program.
• Serves as the VA medical facility RMD Committee Chair, and as the VA medical facility SME for RMD reprocessing.
• Collaborates with VA medical facility service lines that provide support to SPS to ensure compliance with this directive.
• Oversees the reprocessing of VA medical facility RMD.
• Collaborates with the VA medical facility ADPCS and VA medical facility CoS to ensure the proper RMD processes.
• Ensures all VA medical facility staff that are responsible for point-of-use cleaning, transport, and storage of RMD have the required education, training and competence validation.
• Develops, implements, documents, and tracks education and training programs, including initial orientation for new employees, competence validation, continuing education and staff development for all VA medical facility staff performing RMD reprocessing.
• Ensures manufacturer's instructions for use (MIFU) is available for all RMD, including consigned and loaned devices, reprocessing equipment and expendable products used in reprocessing.
• Evaluates VA medical facility SPS staffing levels annually to determine requirements to support SPS management, administrative and technical workloads and reports findings to the VA medical facility Director.
• Provides input to the VA medical facility Chief, Healthcare Engineering/Facility Maintenance Service during the designing process to ensure RMD processing and storage room construction and renovation plans submitted are in compliance with current VHA design guides.
• Collaborates with RMD users and VA medical facility Chief, Healthcare Engineering/Facility Maintenance Service to develop a plan to systematically retire RMD and reprocessing equipment, prior to expected end-of-life.
• Oversees the RMD management program, including programmed or preventive maintenance, sharpening, repair or replacement, service plans and contract monitoring.
• Collects, analyzes and reports on SPS quality assurance and process improvement data to the VA medical facility ADPCS and collaborates with the VISN CSPO, VA medical facility Director and VA medical facility ADPCS to identify and mitigate associated risks.
• Appoints SPS representative to participate on the VA medical facility Water Safety Committee to facilitate compliance with utility water, steam and critical water standards for all RMD reprocessing.
• Collaborates with the VA medical facility CoS and VA medical facility ADPCS to ensure all RMD end-users are compliant with this directive.
• Meets with the VISN CSPO at least once a month to communicate program status.
• Ensures self and staff meet the needs of internal and external customers through patient centered care. Supports the VAMC mission by communicating and treating customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.

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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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.

Grandfathering Provision: 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).

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.

Grade Determinations:

GS-09 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief
(a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must meet one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommends promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holds corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements.
2. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
3. Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements.
4. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.
5. 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.
6. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.
7. 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.

(c) Assignment. The Assistant Chief contributes to the oversight of all supervision, administrative management and direction of the SPS. Oversees all decontamination, sterilization and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations. Contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation and fiscal management. Makes selections, assigns personnel and provides direction to subordinate staff. Manages the training, documenting and evaluating of staff. Serves as liaison between SPS and other departments.

Preferred Experience: Certification (HSPA, CBSPD,CCI).

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-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-09.

Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings, to include but not limited to, Decontamination and Preparation areas, Endoscopy Suite, and in other services and departments throughout the medical center. The employee may be required to work in a multitude of temperature variants. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, needle sticks, and other injuries from handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of sterile products and packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The employee may be required to push loaded carts weighing several hundred pounds and work them over irregularities in the floor (e.g. door sills and elevator entrance). the work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. 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, personal protective equipment (PPE), and shoe covers 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 hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases are unknown. 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 RME. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment. The position requires ability to work on computers for extended periods of time. Requires the ability to frequently respond to multiple demand and priorities. Self-care skills to maintain physical, psychological, and emotional health. GEMS: Follows all relevant safety and health standards, local directives, and other requirements; support this facility's mission to be a good environmental steward by consciously reducing the impact on our environment, including recycling, substitution of hazardous chemical with less hazardous chemicals, and energy efficiency.

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.