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Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing) Assistant Chief

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Assistant Chief, Sterile Processing, contributes to the oversight of all supervision, administrative management, and direction of the Sterile Processing Service. The incumbent in this position oversees all decontamination, sterilization, and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment. The Assistant Chief develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
01/14/2022 to 02/04/2022
Salary
$53,433 to - $69,462 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Wilkes Barre, PA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSZ-11355165-22-RP
Control number
631292100

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Duties

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The Assistant Chief, Sterile Processing Service and fills an advanced performance level supervisory role in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS). In this position, the incumbent will provide supervision over staff who perform sterilization, preparation of supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center. The term "supply item" as used in this functional statement refers to disposable and reusable items for patient care including instrumentation (scissors, forceps, retractors, etc.) reusable medical equipment (suction machines, infusion pumps, etc.), surgical trays and sets and various other items that could be processed or assembled through the Preparation and Decontamination areas of the Sterile Processing Service.

At the GS9 level, a supervisory MST is one of the most experienced technicians and may perform the full range of supervisory duties that include but are not limited to assigning, planning, and evaluating work, recommending awards, approving leave, identifying training needs, and resolving staff issues. Supervisors evaluate completed work for overall technical soundness and conformance to agency policies through competency assessment utilizing simulation, direct observation, and verbal responses from the incumbent. The Assistant Chief oversees all decontamination, sterilization, and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME.

Perform all functions of subordinate a Medical Supply Technician (MST) including, but not limited to:

  • Responsible for assisting the Chief, Sterile Processing Services (SPS), in oversight of all operational and administrative activities of the service.
  • Responsible for the quality management system activities within Sterile Processing Services, to include training, competency assessment, development and enforcement of standard operating procedures.
  • Through subordinate Lead Technicians provides technical and direct supervision over GS5 through GS8 Medical Supply Technicians.
  • Manages, directs and adapts work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and to meet new and changing program requirements.
  • Assists Chief, SPS, in managing the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) for equipment assigned to SPS such as sterilizers, washer/disinfector, ultrasonic, sealers through the nonexpendable property program for the assigned facility/system and requests replacement of all equipment under their purview as needed.
  • In the absence of the Chief, serves as a member or in an advisory capacity on committees such as Commodity Standardization, Infection Control, Environment of Care, and Reusable Medical Equipment. In addition, the Assistant Chief is required to attend regularly scheduled meetings as assigned to represent SPS and to provide written and verbal reports as required.
  • Issues, adapts, implements and maintains local SPS policies and procedures as applicable to specific facility/system programs.
  • Assists the Chief, SPS in developing, directing and maintaining a Quality Control Program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological monitoring, product assessment and other means, and providing specific reports as required.
  • Solicits assistance from, or responds to, inquiries from outside regulatory and advisory agencies to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures from organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), Joint Commission (JC), International Association for Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM), Association of peri Operative Nurses (AORN), and others.
  • Responsible for facilitating training of various aspects of SPS, including reprocessing and inventory management. Conducts departmental orientation, training, skills review and assists with educational programs to maintain high staff quality performance standards. Identifies and promotes staff development.
  • Responsible for coordination and integration of production requirements to meet needs of customers, both scheduled and non-scheduled.
  • Assists Chief, SPS in preparing and evaluating future scheduling projects, anticipating future workload requirements to forecast appropriate staffing levels.
  • n conjunction with Chief, SPS, responsible for developing policies and procedures that meet the infection prevention standards set by JC, AAMI, AORN, IAHCSMM and others and for monitoring compliance with those policies to meet established local, VISN, VHA and JC requirements for safe patient care.
  • Knowledgeable and prepared to function as Acting Chief of the service.
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Requirements

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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
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

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/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 Equivalent combination of experience and education. 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: Medical Supply Technician must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
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:
  1. Registered Central Service Technician (RCST), Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CBSPD) or IAHCSMM (Preferred)
  2. Knowledge of a wide variety of instrumentation used in the operating room and throughout the hospital.
  3. Microsoft Suite - in depth experience creating complex graphs, charts, reports and providing analysis
  4. Sterile Process/Operating room RME (Reusable Medical Equipment) experience
  5. Experience with multi-interdisciplinary teams including employees, customers, and vendors
  6. Lead or Supervisory experience of employees and managing system impacting programs (ex. Censitrac) requiring complex decision making, critical thinking and sound clinical judgement.
  7. Experience applying VA NPOSP standards, VHA Directive 1116(2) PG-18-12, Design Guide 285: Sterile Processing Service,
Grade Determinations:

GS-09: Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-8.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements
  • Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying background
  • Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements.
  • Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.
  • 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
  • Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.
  • 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.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/76 PART II APPENDIX G47 MAY 28, 2014

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light lifting (under 15 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), pulling hand over hand (8-12 hours), pushing (8-12 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8-12 hours), standing (8-12 hours), kneeling, repeated bending (8-12 hours), climbing, legs only (8-12 hours), climbing, use of legs and arms, both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and hearing (aid may be permitted).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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, résumé, 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.

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.

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