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 position is open to current permanent VA Salt Lake City Health Care System Employees. VA Employees Nationwide, and all other Federal Employees. * If you are NOT A current federal employees. please apply to vacancy announcement CBSU- 12889865-26-AS which is open to the public to apply *

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• Performing work pertaining to the decontamination, preparation, sterilization, disinfection, and distribution of reusable medical devices (RMD); and tracking RMD in the instrument tracking program and documenting all Quality Assurance involved in decontamination, preparation, sterilization, and disinfection and tracking RMD in the instrument tracking program and documenting all Quality Assurance involved in decontamination, preparation, sterilization, and disinfection, distribution, and inventory management processes.
• Operates equipment involved in decontamination, preparation, sterilization, and disinfection processes.
• Required to maintain current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and manufacturer's instructions for use (MIFU) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, preparation, sterilization, disinfection, and distribution of RMD.
• Able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position.
• Required to manually clean RMD - remove gross soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by discarding, wiping, brushing, scrubbing, soaking, rinsing; and mechanically wash RMD in decontamination.
• Required to dry, inspect, prepare, assemble, maintain, handle, package RMD according to SOPs and/or MIFUs.
• Disinfect and/or sterilize RMD utilizing appropriate disinfection and/or sterilization methods and equipment according to SOPs and MIFUs.
• Perform work in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus.
• May be required to work in areas that are hot or cold.
• Subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment.
• Requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds).
• Requires dexterity and visual acuity for assessing, manipulating, disassembly and assembly of RMD, as well as discerning physical monitors and process indicators of equipment.
• On a regular and recurring basis, alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment.
• Medical Supply Technician wears special clothing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be uncomfortably warm.
• Subject to burns and chemical exposure.
• Works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling.
• The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of reprocessing equipment.
• Must communicate both orally and in writing.
• Required to utilize universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Utilizes medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, medical conditions, and procedures in order to assemble RMD.
• Has proficient knowledge and application of decontamination, preparation, disinfection and sterilization reprocessing equipment and processes and is able to track these processes in the instrument tracking system (Censitrac).
• Knowledge of event-related packaging and storage methodology.
• Understands and applies quality assurance principles regarding RMD and RMD processes and reprocessing equipment.
• Will read, interpret, and apply written instructions and procedures.

Work Schedule: M-F 2:00pm-10:30pm
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 #:54534-A, 54535-A, 54536-A, 54538-A
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

**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until May 18,2026.The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 2, 2026 Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.**

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,
• 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 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).

Grade Determinations:
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. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.
• 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: One year of sterile processing experience. and/or Sterile processing certification from HSPA (CRCST) and /or VA sterile processing certification and/or CVSPD.

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 work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The MST may be required to work in areas that are hot, humid, cold, drafty, and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of RMD, as well as discerning physical monitors and process indicators of equipment.

On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be uncomfortably warm. The Medical Supply is subject to burns and chemical exposure. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of equipment.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.