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Surgical Technician (Perioperative)

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

Summary

The Surgical Technician (Perioperative) is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The ST also assists the surgeons in outpatient clinics, prepares information regarding inpatient/outpatient procedures and ambulatory surgeries in addition to operating room surgical procedures.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/26/2025 to 12/03/2025
Salary
$56,336 to - $73,242 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Durham, NC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBTA-12841058-26-WM
Control number
851107900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position.

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Duties

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The Surgical Technician - Operating Room is located at Durham VA Medical Center and is part of the Perioperative Surgery Team. Provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. Participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team.


Duties:

  • Prepare operating rooms for surgery by setting up surgical instruments and equipment
  • Ensure all surgical instruments are sterilized properly before use
  • Assist surgeons and nurses during surgical procedures by passing instruments and supplies
  • Maintain a sterile environment in the operating room
  • Monitor and track surgical supplies and inventory
  • Handle specimens taken for laboratory analysis
  • Assist with patient preparation before surgery
  • Operate and troubleshoot surgical equipment
  • Maintain accurate records of procedures and inventory
  • Support the surgical team with post-operative care and room clean-up
  • Stay updated on medical technologies and surgical techniques
  • Adhere to hospital and regulatory infection control policies

Qualifications
GS-7 Grade Level Requirements: Specialized Experience: Must have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-6) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. Experience working in multiple surgical specialties, including but not limited to, Orthopedics, General Surgery, ENT, Vascular, or Neurosurgery.



In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs.
1. Knowledge of basic and complex surgical procedures,
2. Ability to assist physicians with specialized and complex procedures.
3. Previous experience in an operating room setting
4. Advanced knowledge of surgical instruments and procedures
5. Excellent manual dexterity and physical stamina
6. Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure
7. Knowledge of universal precautions and disinfection techniques and ability to follow SOPs to clean reuseable medical equipment (RME).
8. Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service skills and interpersonal skills with all healthcare professionals to ensure quality and continuity of care.



Preferred Experience

1.Completion of a surgical technology program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
2. Recent hospital experience in the last two years as a surgical technician.
3. Proficient computer skills
4. Meet physical requirements
5. Sterile processing background
6. Knowledge of aseptic techniques and infection control protocols
7. Excellent communication and teamwork skills
8. Knowledge of instruments, supplies, and equipment regarding GI procedures
9. BLS



Preferred Level of Education
  • GS 7 with GS6 completed qualifications

Preferred Certification(s)
  • BLS

Work Schedule: M-F 10 hour tours between 9:30am -8:00pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician (Perioperative)/PD06256A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NO

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • 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 dentification 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)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period 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, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/03/2025.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: open hear, thoracic, major vascular, neurosurgery, microsurgery, and total joint replacement surgery; assisting surgeons by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractor, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures; utilizing universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment; setting up sterile fi eld with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment ,laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment; other related duties performed by a Surgical Technician. OR

Education: (Transcript Required)Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based one education for this grade level you must have One (1) full year of graduate education that meets the requirements for GS-7 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

GS-7 Grade Level Requirements: Specialized Experience: Must have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-6) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. Experience includes assisting the staff with basic and complex specialized endoscopic procedures such as ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), proficient with GI endoscopic equipment and ensure proper performance of equipment, selecting alternate equipment or adjusting settings to accommodate patient needs. Collecting, processing, and labeling all specimens; training other technicians in basic endoscopic procedures; working in and outside the GI unit offering technician support during emergent and on-call endoscopic cases; and assisting the nurse in patient care duties such as obtaining vital signs, dressing and documenting all pertinent information in the patient's records. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education


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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Applies Technology to Tasks
  • Attention to Detail
  • Listening
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Technical Competence

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

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