Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Major Duties:

• Wears appropriate attire, shoes, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in all areas of assigned work.
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of RMD including identification, general use, and specific characteristics.
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of reprocessing related equipment to include sterilizers, ultrasonic washers, washer disinfectors, cart wash, and high-level disinfectors.
• Provides education/training to staff in alignment with Office of Sterile Processing (OSP) Directive 1116, VISN/Syracuse VAMC Quality Management System Protocols, Manufacturer Instructions for Use (IFUs), and AORN/AAMI/HSPA standards and parameters.
• Develops and manages new employee orientation program, completes orientation of new staff.
• Develops and manages SPS annual education plan.
• Develops and executes formal and informal written training plans (literature review, continuing education, in-services, certification and/or formal education), to improve self and staff knowledge in specialized areas of reprocessing RMD. Coordinates/schedules guest education/training based in-services.
• Assures staff meets compliance with Directive 1116 required minimal 12.0 CEUs annually.
• Assures education records are maintained by staff and assists staff with navigation of the eQMS Employee Education Record system.
• Assists with Quality Assurance activities, Accreditation Survey preparation, and VISN/OSP audit processes as assigned.
• Completes annual review of Syracuse VAMC SPS High-Risk Protocols (HRPs). Assists with creation of new HRPs, to support implementation of new RMD, when applicable.
• Serves as a resource for staff, providing real-time education/training to optimize operations.
• Observes and participates in workflow to ensure high quality work and identify education training needs of employees.
• Completes ongoing competency verification and documentation (VISN Summative Competency and Syracuse VAMC High-Risk Competencies).
• Participates in unit based and/or organizational level Shared Governance Councils, utilizing reprocessing experience, evidence-based practice, and knowledge to assist with finding solutions to problems or issues to improve the quality of SPS/facility operations.
• Familiar with Microsoft Office programs, SharePoint, other programs and data processing as they pertain to SPS functions i.e. Instrument Tracking System.
• Completes all standard work as assigned.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Day/Evening
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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)
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 #: 13641-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.
• 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

Basic Requirements:

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

Grade Determinations:

GS-07 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Trainer

(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. Knowledge of SPS and Infection Prevention regulations.
2. Knowledge of procedures and/or operations in training developed for, and operations of SPS functions for both new and existing staff.
3. Ability to manage integrated training programs as it relates to sterile processing procedures.
4. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel or other software programs in order to complete reports and develop skills.
5. Ability to communicate effectively with staff and management officials in regards to sterile processing procedures

Assignment. The MST Trainer is responsible for developing formal and informal written plans for the SPS training program, in compliance with accreditation organizations and VHA-specific requirements as well as medical center policies and procedures for SPS and related staff. Facilitates training of SPS staff through educational programs and job specific instruction. Improves SPS processes by facilitating the application for new technology of reusable medical devices by training all new and existing staff. Develops, monitors, and revises SPS educational programs for both new and existing staff. Documents and assesses staff's training, to identify areas of strength and need. Develops an education plan (literature review, continuing education, in-services, certification and/or formal education) to maintain and improve knowledge in specialized areas of processing reusable 9 medical devices. Participates in tracking, trending and analyzing education data. Identifies opportunities for improvement, makes recommendations and/or prepares reports based on findings. Develops and conducts the annual review of the SPS preceptor program.

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: See VA Handbook 5019. Depending on the assigned work, the employee may sit, stand, and/or move from one part of the room to another while performing duties throughout their assigned tour of duty. Employees move carts throughout the medical center full of resusable medical devices (RMD), sometimes in crowded quarters and over slight rises such as thresholds. There is a frequent requirement for lifting baskets/containers of stainless-steel instruments weighing 25 pounds and lifting packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). Bending, stretching, and reaching is frequently required. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly, and assembly of RMD. Workdays can be lengthened without notice by emergency surgery instrumentation
needs.

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.