Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Facility employees ONLY. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Independently select and perform the proper sequence of steps across decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and distribution work areas, considering item condition, contamination type, workflow needs, and IFUs.
• Perform all phases of decontamination, including wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing, and operating ultrasonic cleaners, enzymatic systems, washer disinfectors, and other processing equipment.
• Assemble, inspect, and prepare instruments, trays, and sets with full accuracy, organizing items by size, weight, and delicacy to ensure effective sterilant penetration and safe clinical use.
• Prepare, load, operate, and monitor all sterilization systems (Steam, V-Pro hydrogen peroxide, and highlevel disinfection systems) and complete all required documentation with full compliance.
• Conduct sterilization inspection, verify chemical and biological indicators, and complete work segments involving assembly, decontamination, sterilization, and reusable medical device (RMD) processing.
• Transport sterile and contaminated RMDs throughout the facility in accordance with transport regulations, workflow priorities, and infection prevention requirements.
• Unload sterilizer carts and route items based on workload, urgency, and procedural needs, ensuring efficient and accurate distribution
• Apply FIFO and other inventory control principles when restocking.
• Maintain a clean, safe work environment, identify equipment or workflow concerns, and promptly report issues requiring repair or administrative attention.
• Manage assigned work independently and support workflow continuity across all SPS functional areas.
• Work professionally as a functional, collaborative team member with SPS leadership and fellow MSTs, contributing to efficient, safe, and customer-focused departmental operations.
• Assist with the orientation and basic instructional support of new MSTs as appropriate, demonstrating correct procedures, reinforcing SOPs, and modeling professional conduct.
• Provide reliable communication, constructive teamwork, and support for process improvement initiatives.
• Complete all assigned monthly and annual education, competency, and regulatory training requirements.
• Demonstrate consistent adherence to safety, infection control, and quality assurance standards.
• Provide oversight in the development, implementation, coordination, maintenance, and evaluation of critical, semi-critical, and non-critical RMD used throughout the medical center, ensuring full regulatory compliance.
• Interpret and apply sterile processing and infection prevention regulations, national guidelines, IFUs, and facility SOPs to ensure standardization, safety, and effective clinical outcomes.
• Monitor, analyze, and provide consultation on infection prevention concerns related to RMD; collaborate with Infection Prevention, SPS leadership, and clinical services to resolve issues.
• Participate in clinical rounds and tracers to verify that service level RMD processes are current, validated, properly implemented, and consistently followed, while conducting program audits, process reviews, and traceability checks to analyze trends and develop corrective action recommendations.
• Serve as subject matter expert in all aspects of RMD processes and provide guidance to coworkers and end users as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and compliant environmental monitoring logs and ensure readiness for regulatory and accreditation reviews.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
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 #: 436-57749A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 evaluation/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

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. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed.
• Education/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.

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 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - RME Coordinator

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 interact with individuals of varying backgrounds in order to assess the needs of the department.
2. Ability to coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion.
3. Ability to interpret and apply sterile processing/infection prevention regulations and policies.
4. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment.
5. Ability to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in carrying out sterile processing functions.

Preferred Experience:

References: VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G47

Physical Requirements:

1. This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, Medivator, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and (potentially at times) poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material or handling of equipment.
2. 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.
3. 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 employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses which can include headaches and mucosal irritation. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.

Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in Sterile Processing. National Certification 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 a GS7.

Physical Requirements:

1. This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, Medivator, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and (potentially at times) poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material or handling of equipment.
2. 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.
3. 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 employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses which can include headaches and mucosal irritation. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing 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.