Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open to the Public - US Citizens.

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The incumbent is under the supervision of the Assistant Chief (Sterile Processing). The Assistant Chief will assign work with standing instructions on objectives, priorities, and deadlines, and provide guidance for unusually involved situations. Functions and duties of the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) include:

• Create daily duty assignments based on staff, workload, and department priorities.
• Review subordinate's work to adjust assignments, evaluate learning needs, and communicate those needs to the SPS Educator.
• Evaluate employee performance and behavior, if deficient, initiate appropriate corrective and disciplinary actions.
• Recommend staffing and shift changes as needed to the Assistant Chief of SPS.
• Develop monthly staffing schedules, approve leave, and maintain attendance records (shift reports).
• Coordinate all operations, priorities, and procedures on a daily basis within the Sterile Processing Department.
• Resolve informal customer complaints and follow up as necessary.
• Address, investigate, and resolve employee problems and complaints, provide instruction, guidance, and direction to the SPS staff under his/her direct supervision.
• Oversee attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload.
• Recommend promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel.
• Hold corrective interviews with employees and refer disciplinary problems to higher levels.
• Resolve informal complaints of employees.
• Provide technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 11:00pm to 7:30am.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: 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).
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 #: 000000.
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 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g.).

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.

Certification. None.

English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

GRADE DETERMINATONS.
The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-3 = 6 months experience.
GS-4 = 6 months experience at the GS-3 grade level or 2 yrs above high school with 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation.
GS-5 = 1 year experience at or equivalent to the GS-4 grade level or a bachelors degree with 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation.
GS-6 = 1 year experience at or equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.
GS-7 = 1 year experience at or equivalent to the GS-6 grade level.

GS-8 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing).
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to manage, interact, and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
2. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed.
3. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME.
4. 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.

Preferred Experience:
- 3yrs Leadership and/or supervisory experience and working with a diverse team of people.
- 2yrs experience assessing reusable medical device competencies of front-line staff.
- Certified with Hospital Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), Certified Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD), or Certified Registered Central Technician (CRCST).
- Excellent or Outstanding on current annual performance appraisal.

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-8.

Physical Requirements:
The work requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); pushing (up to 2 hours); reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 4 hours); repeated bending (up to 1 hour); both legs required; the ability to distinguish basic colors; and the ability to distinguish shades of colors.

Environmental Factors:
The work may be outside and inside; there may be exposure to excessive heat and cold; constant noise; slippery or uneven walking surfaces; working around machinery with moving parts; working with hands in water; and working alone.

How you will be evaluated

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

What are KSAs?
In the federal hiring process, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) are a list of special qualifications and personal attributes that you need to have for a particular job/grade level (see Qualifications section of this announcement).

• Knowledge statements refer to an organized body of information usually of a factual or procedural nature which, if applied, makes adequate performance on the job possible. A body of information applied directly to the performance of a function. Skill statements refer to the proficient manual, verbal or mental manipulation of data or things.
• Skills can be readily measured by a performance test where quantity and quality of performance are tested, usually within an established time limit.
• Ability statements refer to the power to perform an observable activity at the present time. This means that abilities have been evidenced through activities or behaviors that are similar to those required on the job. Note that abilities are different from aptitudes. Aptitude is only the potential for performing the activity.

Although not required at the time of application, we highly recommend submitting a supplemental document with your written responses to the KSAs required at each grade level you wish to be considered. If you choose not to submit KSA responses, please ensure your resume includes details of your experience that fully demonstrate the required KSAs as described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement.

5 Tips for Writing a Federal Resume - FederalPay.org (https://www.federalpay.org/articles/5-tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume)

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.