Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Area of Consideration - 1st: Current, Permanent, VA Caribbean Healthcare System San Juan employees including employees of the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics. 2nd: Current, Permanent, VA Nationwide employees and 3rd rest of US Public.

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The incumbent will be able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to the position throughout the medical center (including community based outpatient clinics).

Major Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide cleaning, decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization or high-level disinfection and distribution of reusable medical devices throughout the medical center.
• Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.
• Assemble basic sets, trays, and peel packs used throughout the medical center, including those used in the operating room.
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, proper packaging, and signs of unsterile products.
• Documentation of testing procedures and data logs.

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, weekends, holidays and Outpatient Clinic (OPC) coverage as needed
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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)
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 #: 61933F, 61934F, 61935F, 61936F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Occasional Travel: The employee may be selected to attend VHA sponsored educational training or certification courses. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid State or Federal Drivers License to operate a government vehicle.

Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. Veterans are encouraged to apply and will receive full consideration.

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.

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 in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
• Experience and/or Education
• 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.
• 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.

Selective Placement Factor: Must be proficient in spoken Spanish language.

Preferred Experience: Experience using or reprocessing surgical instrumentation, preferred. Education as a Surgical Technician or Medical Instrumentation Technician, preferred ,Experience using or reprocessing scopes, preferred. National approved certification from a professional agency related to sterile processing.

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).

Experience and/or Education
Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work;
OR,
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,
Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates

GS-03 (Entry Level)
Experience and/or Education. None beyond the basic requirements as listed above.

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

1. A practical knowledge of aseptic techniques and microbiology (germ theory, types of microorganisms, habitat and mode of life, thermal death point) enough to understand the ways diseases and infections are transmitted and the importance of clean and sterile supplies to patient care.
2. A knowledge of the flow of work in the Sterile Processing unit and the unit's relation to patient treatment and care.
3. The ability to recognize a wide variety of instruments and supplies and to discriminate among similar=appearing instruments that vary by small differences in size or differences such as in serrations, tips, and curvatures of blades.
4. The ability to pursue further training in aseptic techniques relating to the care, use, and processing of new kinds of devises/equipment or the effectiveness of new or revised cleaning and sterilizing methods.
5. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
6. Knowledge of medical terminology, regarding anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions, and procedures.

GS-04 (Developmental Level)
Experience. Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting;
OR
Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.

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

1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 (Developmental Level)
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level;
OR
Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree.

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

1. 1.Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. 2.Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
3. 3.Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

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

1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06

Physical Requirements: The work is performed in various settings throughout the facility, to include but not limited to; decontamination, scope room, sterile storage, Prep & Packaging and clinical departments. The incumbent may be required to work in a multitude of temperature variants and chemical solutions management. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday, with frequent bending and lifting of instrumentation (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds) pushing medical supply carts weighing up to 200 pounds. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee will be asked to rotate between carefully controlled clean environments and the contaminated area of decontamination. The employee wears personal protective equipment, as appropriate for each area. This will include, but not limited to; hospital provided surgical attire, hair covers, beard covers, shoe covers and hospital dedicated shoes. The employee may be exposed to hazardous materials or loud noises within the department

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.