Clarification from the agency

Current Southern Arizona (Tucson) VA Facility employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs only. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Performs reprocessing of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) to include decontamination, preparation, high-level disinfection, sterilization, and storage, as well as assembly of surgical case carts for the Operating Room, retrieval and delivery of semi-critical and critical RME and maintenance of the work environment in accordance with VHA directives and memoranda governing operations in SPS. Assigns work to staff based on experience and training, monitoring and reporting the status of work, reviewing work in progress or spot-checking work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets management's expectations (e.g., work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines).
• Assess the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of critical and semi-critical RME, to include review of records and logs relating to quality assurance.
• Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes, and task completion.
• Analyzes problems with reprocessing equipment, making necessary adjustments, within the scope allowed by equipment end-users per the manufacturers' instructions, and placing repair requests (e.g., work orders) as needed.
• Reviews manufacturers' instructions and guidelines to ensure correct methods and parameters are followed during RME reprocessing, offer advisory input for drafting and revising SOPs, and proofread draft SOPs for content and clarity.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 10:00am - 6:30pm.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)/PD000000
Financial Disclosure Report: 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.
• 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).
• 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:

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

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.In addition to the experience above, must be able to 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.

Preferred Experience: Medical Supply Technician experience

References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47, Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard, GS-0622, Veterans Health Administration.

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

Physical Requirements: The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday with frequent bending and lifting of sterile packages and containers averaging 25 lbs. before and after sterilization or high-level disinfection. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulation, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. Physical demands include bending, twisting, stooping, extending arms, lifting of heavy objects such as instrument trays to and from shelf heights ranging from 8 inches above floor level up 18 inches below ceiling height. Use of a safety step stool or safety step ladder is required to reach work area and equipment surfaces higher than what the employee can reach unaided (i.e., standing on the floor). Pushing and pulling of loaded sterilizer carts, transport carts, and surgical case carts is required.

The incumbent must be able to tolerate standing for prolonged periods of time, wearing impervious personal protective equipment (PPE), and higher ambient temperatures in the presence of heat-generating equipment. The incumbent must be able to tolerate ambient noise from reprocessing equipment and activities, and odors from contaminated RME and reprocessing agents.

On a regular basis the employee alternates between the clean, controlled environment of the preparation, sterilization, high-level disinfection, and sterile storage areas and the contaminated environment of the decontamination area. The incumbent must comply with attire and PPE requirements to protect RME undergoing preparation, high-level disinfection, or sterilization from contaminants, and to protect oneself from biohazards such as blood, body fluids, and tissues. The incumbent must also comply with PPE requirements or other controls designed for protection against hot surfaces and chemical agents used during cleaning, decontamination, high-level disinfection, and sterilization.

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.