Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Tracks RMD in the instrument tracking program and verifies all quality assurance modalities involved in decontamination, preparation, sterilization, disinfection, distribution, and inventory management processes.
• Works collaboratively with other MSTs and clinic (Operating Room) end users and be a subject matter expert to ensure completion of work, appropriate quality assurance metrics and modalities are being adhered to, as well as review previously completed work of other MSTs.
• Reviews the current and future surgery schedule and coordinates with OR personnel, SPS, and other services to ensure that all RMD, equipment, and consumable supplies will be ready for patient care utilization as requested by established surgical procedure case cart requisitions or physician preference cards.
• Submits timely requisitions to appropriate services to procure, stock, and maintain proper inventory levels of items located in the sterile core.
• Handles and stores critical and semi-critical RMD, equipment, and consumable supplies in accordance with VA policy and procedures.
• Procures stock and maintains proper RMD inventory levels located throughout the sterile core.
• Maintains the sterile core in an orderly and clean manner; cleaning storage shelves, carts and work surfaces as required.
• Monitors environmental conditions in the sterile core and communicate and help facilitate rectification of non-conformities of environmental conditions.
• Submits electronic work orders for non-conformities in the sterile core.
• Reviews the work of others to ensure acceptable quality assurance metrics have been attained prior to distribution and patient care utilization - facilitating rectification of non-conformities. The position will assist management with oversight and support of the RMD program.
• Assists in all consumable and reusable supply, device, and equipment inventories.
• Assists in the review and development of policy and procedure regarding the RMD program in the sterile core.
• Manages the work area, storage, carts, supplies, devices, and equipment according to policy and directive.
• Collects, analyzes, and provides data to assist in establishing benchmarks for quality improvement.
• Assists in collaboration and demonstrates excellent customer service with internal and external customers to ensure appropriate professional standards (i.e., Directive, OSHA, The Joint Commission, CDC, AAMI/ANSI, etc.), quality management, and performance improvement measures are consistently applied in the facility RMD program.
• Assists in the development, review, and implementation of a disaster plan, including downtime procedures, regarding the RMD program in the sterile core.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:00am - 2:30pm. (May require rotating on-call shifts to include weekends and Holidays).
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: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 60250-A

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 August 31, 2026, or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be April 6, 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.

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 andeducation are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must havebeen 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.

Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (5/28/2014) 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:

Medical Supply Technician - Sterile Processing - Advanced GS-07
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).

Assignements at the GS-6 level. 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.

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

1. Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Ability to assemble specialty operating room and clinic instrument sets.
3. In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in order to convey information and thoughts to others.

Preferred Experience:

• Has at least 1 of the following certifications:

1. HSPA Certification
2. CBSPD Certification
3. VHA Sterile Processing Certification

• Has previous Sterile Processing experience.

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-7.

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 MST 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.

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.