Clarification from the agency

This is ONLY open to current permanent federal employee at the Salt Lake City VAHCS NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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• Plans, conducts, and analyzes operations within the service to evaluate administrative methods, procedures, workflow, personnel utilization, etc., and recommends to the Chief of SPS those courses of action or changes that will improve services to the Veteran or affect the economy of operation.
• Establishes and maintains an accurate RMD inventory and reprocessing equipment, and ensures RMD availability for patient care. The incumbent will plan, organize, direct, train, and coordinate all activities associated with a comprehensive sterile processing service. The duties of this position are highly specialized and require an in-depth knowledge of processes, reprocessing equipment, reusable medical devices, and reprocessing methodology. Much of the work required is time-sensitive and complex, having a direct and immediate impact on healthcare delivery.
• Supports the Chief of SPS and their subordinates in accomplishing projects through his/her knowledge of and skills in dealing with organization, methods, people, equipment, and other tools or resources of management. The incumbent has a responsible role in the management of human resources because of their immediate relationship to the Chief of SPS.
• Performs key work in several other vital functions, such as management analysis, property management, space management, security administration, report management, and data processing. In addition, they have the authority to act for the Chiefs of SPS in all administrative matters, including delegated responsibility for resource management functions.
• Supports formulation and execution of the service's administrative policies. The Assistant Chief of SPS manages SPS as a service line within the VA medical facility using a planned, implemented, and evaluated Quality Management System (QMS) Program.
• Collaborates with VA medical facility service lines that provide support to SPS to ensure compliance with VA Directive.
• Collaborates with the VA medical facility ADPCS and VA medical facility CoS to ensure the proper RMD processes are in place in all clinical areas and are compliant with VA Directive.
• Oversees the RMD management program, including programmed or preventive maintenance, sharpening, repair or replacement, service plans, and contract monitoring.
• Oversees decisions made daily.
• Oversees the various SPS areas of reprocessing and functions. Such areas and functions include Decontamination, Preparation, Assembly, Packaging, High- and Low-Temperature Sterilization, and Disinfection, all necessary to provide patient care safely and efficiently.
• Functions as a full assistant to the SPS Chief. Assists the Chief in the formulation and administration of the complete SPS RMD Program in the Salt Lake City VA Health Care System.
• Completes delegation of authority to act for the SPS Chief regarding policy and procedure and makes the initial study, collaboration, planning, and implementation of such action. The SPS Chief has delegated the Assistant Chief of SPS to act on their behalf in interpreting policy and procedure.
• Provides oversight of all aspects of Sterile Processing Services, including planning and scheduling priorities based on available staffing, RMD, reprocessing equipment, resources, and the RMD reprocessing workload throughout the facility.
• Develops quality measures and tracks and reports on sterile processing trends.

Work Schedule: M-F 6:00am-2:30pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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 #: 519680
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.
• 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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 Requirement. Applicants must meet one of the following options below to meet this requirement.

(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; (TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED IF SELECTING THIS OPTION)

OR

(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. (TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED IF SELECTING THIS OPTION)

OR

(4) 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. (TRANSCRIPTS AND EDUCATION EQUALIVENCY ARE REQUIRED IF SELECTING THIS OPTION)


Grade Determinations:

GS-9 Experience: Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Assistant Chief

Experience Requirement: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-8) Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: overseeing a work team that includes at least one MST position above full performance-distributing and prioritizing workload among employees in accordance with established workflows and/or job specializations, ensuring an even distribution of the workload. When necessary, revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform decontamination of scopes and instrumentation in the work area. Monitors and reports on the status of work. Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow. Reviews or spot checks scope processing work to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions (e.g., work sequences, procedures, methods, and deadlines).

AND

GS-9 KSAs Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Assistant Chief. In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-09 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

1. Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements.
2. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
3. Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements.
4. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.
5. 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.
6. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.
7. 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: At least one year of experience to the next lower grade level; VA Level 2 MST certification, or HSPA Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), or CBSPD certification; At least one year of supervisory experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, and 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 instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. 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.