Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent employees of the Wilmington VA Medical Center 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

The following is a summary of the major essential functions of this job. The Incumbent may perform other related duties as assigned, both major and minor not mentioned below; periodically specific functions may change.

• The incumbent supervises staff that range in grade from the GS 9, Assistant Chief, SPS, to the GS 6, medical technicians. The skill-level diversity of staff creates a supervisory challenge in maintaining staff expertise in a discipline of ever-changing technology. The incumbent must continually assure that SPS staff maintains quality and standards in reusable medical equipment (RME) processing.
• The incumbent provides oversight to all facility RME; assuring actions regarding facility RME purchases are appropriate.
• The incumbent provides oversight to all facility RME standard operating procedures (SOPs) to assure accordance with all procedures.
• The incumbent faces frequent deadline changes. Whenever the surgery schedule is altered, there is increased pressure for the Chief, SPS, to assure delivery of the alternate procedure trays. Interaction with the vendor/contractor to expedite delivery of required surgical items has a direct impact on the timeliness of surgery and patient care.
• The Chief, SPS, is responsible for assessing, monitoring, developing, and assisting with implementing corrective action plans for instrument and RME processing, decontamination, sterilization, biological monitoring, and high-level disinfecting monitoring.
• He/she will coordinate recall of facility sterilized items whose sterility may have been compromised.
• The Chief, SPS, is an active member of the Commodities Standards Committee, Medical Equipment Committee, and the Co-Chairperson of the RME Committee, and he/she will be an active participant in Environmental Rounds and Operating Room (OR)/SPS Quality Management (QM) meetings.
• The Chief, SPS, will collaborate and communicate information or concerns between clinical services and SPS.
• The Chief, SPS, manages the overall SPS budget including determining resource needs, allocating resources, and ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of SPS operations.
• The Chief, SPS, is accountable to the Associate Director, Patient Care Services (AD-PCS)/Nurse Executive and networks closely with Inventory Management and Infection Control. He/she must be able to work independently with little direct supervision.
• Incumbent keeps the AD-PCS briefed on the status of different events, activities, and projects both within and external to the medical center. The incumbent exercises delegated authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of programs within SPS.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am-4:00pm).
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized.
Telework: Not Authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
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

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. 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. 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.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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-10(a)Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

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

1.Ability to implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to manage SPS operations.
2. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.
3.Ability to integrate SPS managerial duties, which includes strategic planning of facility organizational goals and integration of SPS vision and values within the organizational mission.
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.
5.Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions.
6. Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs.

(c)Assignment. The Chief has the overall responsibility for the supervision, administrative management and direction of the SPS. Ensures SPS functions are in compliance with all regulatory mandates. Forecasts, plans, develops and manages the SPS program. Manages SPS personnel and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments. Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships, coordinates and resolves problems, and ensures cooperation with other programs and services. Manages the overall SPS budget including determining resource needs, allocating resources, and ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness of SPS operations. Formulates objectives, develops priorities and implements plans that support organizational goals. Ensures operations are in compliance with all safety, regulatory and accrediting requirements. Oversees orientation and training of staff.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.