Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees and current permanent Federal employees of other agencies NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties are, but not limited to:

Decontamination and Processing

• Collects, receives, inspects, decontaminates, high-level disinfects and performs terminal sterilization of instruments, equipment, and apparatus to include complex diagnostic equipment and medical apparatus.
• Completely and thoroughly dissembles and positions all parts of RMD to ensure the removal of bioburden, proper cleaning, and disinfection prior to sterilization.
• Performs leak tests on Endoscopes to ensure that the watertight integrity of the scope is intact before initiating the cleaning and high-level disinfection process or terminal sterilization.
• Operates decontamination equipment such as washer decontaminators, sonic washers, irrigators, automatic cart wash and tube dryers.
• Follows all manufacturers' instructions on cleaning of instrumentation and RMD using department SOPs based on manufacturer guidelines.
• Correctly accesses, reads, and understands Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Preparation and Sterilization

• Inspects, assembles, packages, high-level disinfects and sterilizes all instruments, instrument sets, and packs for use throughout the medical center.
• Operates all sterilization that pertains to sterilization processes such as Steam Sterilizers, Low Temperature Sterilizers, heat sealers, and incubators.
• Interprets mechanical printouts and biological indicators to validate that sterilization of RMD is within acceptable parameters.
• Performs high level disinfection using appropriate hospital approved solutions according to the manufacturer guidelines, documents and validates that chemicals are tested and meet requirements to ensure that disinfection has occurred.
• Assembles minor and complex tray sets and instrumentation packs used for a variety of general and specialized medical and surgical procedures.

Quality Assurance Support and Reports

• Performs quality assurance activities including but not limited to monitoring biological and chemical indicators and integrators, Bowie Dick tests, time, and temperature logs, and ensures appropriate RMD checks are documented after sterilization or reprocessing.
• Evaluates gathered data and based upon findings, makes recommendations to improve effectiveness or processes. Follows local SOPs which are written in accordance with the manufacturers' written recommendations for reprocessing RME.
• Consults SPD Supervisor(s) and SPD RMD Coordinator when clarification of written instructions is needed; reprocessing of RMD is never based on vendors' verbal instructions, as this is not an adequate practice.
• Maintains documentation of training in the setup, reprocessing and maintenance of specific equipment. Initial validation of competency will be performed, and minimally thereafter, on an annual basis.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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 #: 512-26201-F; 512-26202-F; 512-26203-F; 512-26204-F
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.
• 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).
• 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

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. 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.

• Certification. None.
• 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.

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).

Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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 grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
2. MSTs 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. MSTs 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 reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-03 (Entry Level)

• Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04 (Developmental Level)

• Experience. Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or
• Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:

1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 (Developmental Level)

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or
• Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• 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.

Preferred Experience:

1. Experience in a Sterile Processing Department
2. Knowledge of cleaning, high level disinfection and sterilization methods
3. Familiarity with reusable medical equipment and instruments

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 in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting 30 pounds or more and pushing. Required to stand and move from one part of the room to another in performance of assigned duties and is also required to travel throughout the medical center observing the processes in placed in different services. Transferring objects may be required.

Occasional Travel: The position may require occasional travel away from the duty station for local meetings; and infrequent distant meetings and conferences. Must be able to meet federal guidelines to use a government vehicle for travel.

Patient Safety Competency Statement: The incumbent will be responsible for promoting a culture of safety and will fully cooperate in efforts to improve patient safety and eradicate potential events including the reporting of events resulting in actual or potential injury to a patient. Incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of the reporting procedures involving safety issues relating to patients.

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. All other applicants.

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.