Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Open to current, permanent San Juan VA Medical Center VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) employees. 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.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

The incumbent serves as a key leadership figure within the Sterile Processing Service (SPS), supporting the SPS management team by overseeing daily operations, guiding staff, and ensuring adherence to established protocols, safety standards, and quality requirements. The employee is responsible for all activities occurring within their assigned area during the tour of duty and ensures that all processes comply with VA, VHA, and regulatory guidelines.

Primary responsibilities include the collection, receipt, inspection, and decontamination of soiled critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD). The incumbent must have complete knowledge of proper techniques for transporting, cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing RMD used in patient care. This includes the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), material-handling techniques, and understanding of cleaning methods, processing equipment, detergents, disinfectants, and guidelines for their proper use.

The incumbent thoroughly disassembles and reassembles all parts of RMD to ensure complete removal of bioburden before sterilization. They serve as a subject matter expert, guiding staff through proper decontamination, assembly, packaging, and sterilization procedures. The individual maintains expert knowledge of factors affecting sterilization processes, sterility maintenance, and in-hospital procedures for all types of RMD disinfection and sterilization.

The Lead is responsible for interpreting mechanical printouts from sterilization equipment to verify sterilization parameters are met. They ensure staff correctly review and document cycle parameters and results in sterilization logs.

On a regular and recurring basis, the Lead:
- Distributes and balances workload among staff to ensure timely reprocessing and an equitable distribution of tasks.
- Monitors workflow and adjusts assignments in accordance with priorities and operational needs
.- Tracks work status, reports estimated completion times, and maintains records of production, work accomplishments, and time expended
- Prepares production reports as requested.
- Instructs employees in specific tasks, job techniques, and ensures written guidance and reference materials are accessible
- Provides on-the-job training to new employees and serves as a resource for staff questions regarding procedures, policies, and directives.
- Obtains required information or decisions from supervisors when issues arise.
- Spot-checks work in progress and reviews completed work to ensure compliance with instructions, work sequences, procedures, and deadlines.

The incumbent performs quality assurance activities, including monitoring biological and chemical indicators, integrators, Bowie-Dick tests, and reviewing time/temperature printouts or graphs. They ensure RMD checks and quality data are accurately documented.

The Lead monitors and reports on the status of ongoing work, reviews work in progress, and ensures all duties are performed according to established policies and procedures. They assess the quality and quantity of work by evaluating cleaning, reprocessing, assembly, sterilization, and distribution activities performed by staff.

The incumbent provides information to management officials regarding performance issues, workload distribution, task completion, and any process concerns observed during oversight. They also advise medical personnel regarding the proper use of sterile medical equipment and respond to issues related to RMD function or sterility concerns.

Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts, Weekends and Holidays, coverage for CBOCs
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)
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 #:61426F
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.

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

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

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:

GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)
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. Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
2. Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.
3. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
5. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments.

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).

Preferred Experience: Completion of SPS Level 1 training in TMS must be done within 90 days after being hired, preferred. Previous experience as lead MST or covering as lead MST, preferred. Experience in management of endoscopes reprocessing, preferred. Experience in identifying, managing, cleaning and/ or high level disinfecting surgical instruments, preferred. Knowledge and experience in identifying and managing Orthopedic instrumentation, preferred. Approved professional agency certification for sterile processing, preferred.

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-07.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for prolonged periods of time, carrying medical supply items weighing up to 50 pounds, pushing medical supply carts weighing up to 200 pounds, or frequent bending and stretching. 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). 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.

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.

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.