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 job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, and U.S. Citizens.

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Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations. This position contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation, and fiscal management. The duties of the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician - Assistant Chief may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assists the Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) in oversight of all operational and administrative activities.
• Oversees the quality management system activities within SPS to include training, competency assessment, development, and enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Provides direct supervision to over twenty (20) Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) through subordinate supervisors.
• Manages, directs, and adapts work to accomplish programs goals, objectives, and meets program requirements.
• Serves as liaison between SPS and other departments.
• Assists Chief of SPS to manage the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) for equipment assigned to SPS; such as sterilizers, washer/disinfector, ultrasonic, and sealers through the nonexpendable property program for the assigned facility.
• Serves as a member, or in advisory capacity on committees such as Commodity Standardization, Infection Control, Environment of Care, and RME; in absence of the Chief of SPS.
• Issues, adapts, implements, and maintains local SPS policies and procedures as applicable to specific facility programs.
• Assists the Chief in developing, directing, and maintaining a Quality Control Program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological monitoring, product assessment, and other means; as well as providing specific reports as required.
• Solicits assistance, response to inquiries from outside regulatory and advisory agencies; such as Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), Joint Commission (JC), International Association for Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM), Association of periOperative Nurses (AORN), and others; to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Facilitates training of various aspects of SPS, including reprocessing and and inventory management.
• Coordinates and integrates production requirements to meet needs of scheduled and non-scheduled customers.
• Assists Chief in preparing, evaluating future scheduling projects and anticipating future workload requirements to forecast appropriate staffing levels.
• Works closely with Supply Chain Management to monitor inventory levels to identify and takes corrective action on matters relating to potential inventory shortages created because of additional case volume, scrap, or any customer related skills that may exist.
• Oversees reprocessing of RME to eliminate risk of infection and to provide timely safe patient care in all patient care areas.
• Oversees continuous quality improvement projects that result in improved services to all customers.
• Develops policies and procedures that meet the infection prevention standards set by JC, AAMI, AORN, IAHCSMM, and monitoring compliance with those policies to meet established requirements for safe patient care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm; subject to change based on the needs of the facility; 24/7 departmental responsibility.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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: Ad Hoc available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 586-01004F
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.
• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
• 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

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.
• Experience and/or Education -
  • Experience - Six months of experience that demonstrates the 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.

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: To qualify for the GS-09 level, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.

Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief, GS-09
(a) Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08).
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements.
2. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
3. Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements.
4. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.
5. 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.
6. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.
7. Ability to manage, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget.

Preferred Experience:

• Leadership and Management Experience: Proven track record of managing and supervising a diverse and multidisciplinary team, including responsibilities such as performance management, training, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.
• Experience in developing and leading training programs, establishing performance expectations, and ensuring adherence to safety regulations.
• Technical Experience and Skills: Comprehensive experience in RME reprocessing, including cleaning, sterilization, and decontamination techniques. Familiarity with Joint Commission, OSHA, and VHA directives related to medical equipment and supply management. Proficiency in utilizing inventory systems like Generic Inventory Package (GIP) and automated point-of-use systems for supply management.
• Administrative Proficiency: Strong experience in budget planning, financial management, and accountability, including developing and managing budgets, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring efficient use of resources. Experience planning and directing
  complex supply management functions, including accounting studies, inventory reconciliation, and equipment lifecycle management.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Experience effectively engaging with staff, senior VA officials, external contractors, and other stakeholders. Advanced conflict resolution skills to address and resolve issues involving competing objectives, resource limitations, and organizational resistance.
• Adaptability and Problem-solving: Experience in adapting to dynamic environments and responding effectively to changes in workload, technology, technology, and patient care requirements. Proven problem-solving skills to manage operational challenges, and implement effective solutions.
• Compliance and Quality Control: Experience in ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines, including VA directives and infection control policies. Experience in maintaining high standards of quality control and safeguarding both hospital operations and patient care outcomes.
• Clinical Awareness and Sensitivity: Experience in dealing with age, development, and cultural needs of patients within the institution, ensuring care is provided appropriately based on these factors. Experience in training and guiding staff in providing sensitive and appropriate care to diverse patient population.

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-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09.

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. May be required to work in areas that are hot, 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 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 instrumentation.

Environmental Factors: Outside and inside, excessive heat, excessive humidity, excessive dampness or chilling, excessive noise (intermittent), dust, fumes, smoke or gases, grease and oils, electrical energy, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around machinery with moving parts, working around moving objects or vehicles, vibration, working with hands in water, working closely with others, working alone, working with sharp objects, working with odors.

How you will be evaluated

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

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current Permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other applicants.

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.