Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Major Duties:

• Decontamination/Processing: Processing and decontamination involve all the actions required prior to sterilizing and issuance. The Decontamination area is responsible for cleaning and decontaminating all critical and semi-critical reusable equipment, and instruments. Cleaning consists of one or more methods of removing gross contamination. All technicians must follow manufacturing instructions if applicable items must be disassembled before cleaning. Personal protective equipment is essential to SPS technician safety. During processing, the employee visually examines the items for damage, deterioration, or imperfections such as rust, putting, and cracks. They inspect the medical equipment to determine whether it is operating correctly and to ensure that the items were reassembled correctly after cleaning.
• Preparation/Sterilization: Preparation involves all duties required to assemble, package, wrap, and sterilize the medical supply items. When preparing instruments for sterilization, manufacturing instructions must be followed at all times. The items are packaged individually (e.g. scissors, tubing, gauze) or are assembled into trays and sets. Frequently, some items are packaged both individually and as part of a tray or set. In any case, the items are first visually examined for cleanliness and as described above in the processing section, for signs of damage, deterioration, and imperfection. Tests of the condition of the supply items are also required such as scissors for smooth and easy opening. Sterilizing items involves determining the proper sterilizing method, placing the carrier containing the supply items in the sterilizer and operating the sterilizer. The technician includes in sterilization cycles any control tests (Bowie-Dick air removal, biological spore) according to established procedures. At the end of the sterilizing period, the technician compares the control tests with the cycle to determine whether the correct parameters (e.g., time, temperature, pressure) were obtained. Any deviations from the normal or expected parameters are noted and corrective steps are taken.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 2:30pm - 11:00pm
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)
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 #: 540-23133F
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 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.
• 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
  • 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 which both education and experience are acceptable.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the candidate must also meet the grade specific requirements.

Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing), GS-6
Experience: One full year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5). Examples of GS-5 experience include:

• Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.
• Inspects packages for indications for proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room.
• Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor.
• Prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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

Assignment: This is the full performance level for the occupation. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well. Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method, such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.

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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for prolonged periods of time, carrying medical supply items weighing up to 50 pounds, frequent bending and stretching/reaching, and pushing fully loaded medical supply carts weighing as much as 750 pounds which must be negotiated up inclines and over rises, or positioning them on sterilizer track rails. The work requires dexterity in such tasks as inserting small rods into needle openings or precisely aligning component parts while reassembling medical equipment. Tension and stress are induced by the critical nature of producing work results critical to patient care on pre-established time frames and in emergent situations. Workdays can be lengthened without notice by emergency surgery instrumentation needs.

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.