Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent VA/Federal employees only. NOTE: The two-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This is an internal announcement open to current, permanent Federal employees only. All other applicants must apply under the external announcement CBTC-13018256-26-YAS to receive consideration.

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The Lead GS-08 Medical Supply Technician (MST) provides guidance to employees performing work at the GS-7 Lead level or below. The incumbent ensures work assignments of employees in the unit or team are carried out and will provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center.

Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Working with the Supervisor, Sterile Processing Service (SPS), and/or Assistant Chief, SPS in the assignment of functions to team members in order to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities
• Leading and overseeing a work team including MST that is above full performance
• Distributing and prioritizing workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations; assuring an even distribution of the workload
• Revising work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload
• 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
• Monitoring and reporting on the status of work
• Ensuring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow
• Reviewing or spot checking scope processing work to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions (e.g., work sequences, procedures, methods, and deadlines)
• Assessing the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of scope medical equipment, material and instrumentation
• Providing information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes, and task completion
• Instructing employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures, and goals
• Ensuring timely accomplishment of assigned tasks and ensures that each employee has enough work to keep busy
• Assigning work to employees or assigns employees to position. Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform the task
• Explaining work requirements, methods and procedures, as needed, giving special instructions on difficult or different operations and answering technical questions about the task
• Monitoring status and progress of work and making day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities
• Maintaining a current knowledge and answering questions of other employees relating to procedures, policies, and directives
• Training or arranging for the training of team members in the accomplishment of tasks or projects; giving on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices
• Obtaining assistance and/or needed information from the supervisory staff on problems that may arise or backlogs that cannot be disposed of promptly
• Referring questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards to the supervisory staff
• Checking the cleaning, reprocessing and distribution of technical medical equipment, material and instrumentation as deemed appropriate to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee
• Ensuring that items are safe to use, delivered on time at the proper place, and in the correct condition to be properly used for VA patient care
• Performing quality assurance inspections of instruments and equipment in the Sterile Preparation area of SPS prior to items being wrapped and sterilized

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 5:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., or 3:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.; Weekends and Holidays
(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• 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).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one, or two-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

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement.

Basic Requirements: All applicants must meet the following basic qualifications.

• United States Citizenship: Must be a US Citizen.
• Experience and/or Education
  • Experience. Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; - OR -
  • Education. One (1) year above high school that included at least six (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.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level. Examples of experience include, but is not limited to work in which you: assemble highly complex instrument sets including, but not limited to open heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation; process all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology and operating room; review manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating and sterilizing RME; troubleshoot and analyze mechanical failures and make necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, as well as interpret alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment; inform management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines.

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

• Ability to read and interpret written procedures and select appropriate action in order to instruct staff in correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
• Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
• 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: These preferences are highly desired but are not required:

• Three (3) to five (5) years minimum experience as a Sterile Processing Services Lead Technician
• Proficient in electronic instrument tracking system; preferably CensiTrac
• Experience with DaVinci
• Knowledgeable of sterility principles (proficient in decontamination, prep and pack, GI, HLD, and sterilization)
• Assembling complex trays (orthopedic, vascular, heart) and delicate trays (eyes)
• Certifications- Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD), IAHCHMM, or Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)

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

Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination/evaluation as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination/evaluation is administered by VA Occupational Health.

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.