Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees of the facility/CBOCs where this vacancy is located (Michael E. DeBakey VAMC). 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 of the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief may include but are not limited to:

• Oversees all decontamination, sterilization and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME).
• Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations.
• Contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation and fiscal management.
• Makes selections, assigns personnel and provides direction to subordinate staff. Manages the training, documenting competency and evaluation of staff.
• Responsible for assisting the Chief, Sterile Processing Services (SPS), in oversight of all operational and administrative activities of the service.
• Responsible for the quality management system activities within Sterile Processing Services, to include training, competency assessment, development and enforcement of standard operating procedures.
• Manages, directs and adapts work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and to meet new and changing program requirements.
• Assists Chief, SPS, in managing the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing (Ell) for equipment assigned to SPS such as sterilizers, washer/disinfector, ultrasonic, sealers through the nonexpendable property program for the assigned facility/system and requests replacement of all equipment under their purview as needed.
• Issues, adapts, implements and maintains local SPS policies and procedures as applicable to specific facility/system programs.
• Assists the Chief, SPS in developing, directing and maintaining a Quality Control Program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological monitoring, product assessment and other means, and providing specific reports as required.
• Responsible for facilitating training of various aspects of SPS, including reprocessing and inventory management. Conducts departmental orientation, training, skills review and assists with educational programs to maintain high staff quality performance standards. Identifies and promotes staff development.
• Works closely with Supply Chain Management to monitor inventory levels to identify and take 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 appropriate reprocessing of reusable medical devices (RMD) to eliminate risk of infection and to provide timely safe patient care in all patient care areas.
• Responsible for continuous quality improvement projects that result in improved services to all customers.
• In conjunction with Chief, SPS, responsible for developing policies and procedures that meet the infection prevention standards set by JC, AAMI, AORN, HSPA.
  and others and for monitoring compliance with those policies to meet established local, VISN, VHA and JC requirements for safe patient care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm (subject to change based on the needs of the facility)
Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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 #: 580-02358-F
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 identification 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.
• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.

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 - You must be a citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency - English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• 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:

Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief, GS-09

• Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Serving as a first-level supervisor or Lead MST responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work; assigning tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform decontamination of scopes and instrumentation in the work area; instructing employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures and goals; referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management or supervisors; resolving informal complaints of employees and dealing with union representatives on personnel matters; providing technical supervision or direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements.
  • Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
  • Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements.
  • Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.
  • 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.
  • Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.
  • 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:

• 5+ years experience in Sterile Processing

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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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.