Summary This position in Sterile Processing Service is the central point within the Medical Center providing the technical supply functions of collection, decontamination, processing, packing, sterilization and distribution of all patient care re-usable medical equipment and instruments. The Assistant Chief of SPS under the guidance approval of the Chief of SPS must help issue, adapt, implement, and maintain local SPS policies and SOPs. Responsibilities This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024 or until position is filled. Decontamination Unit Responsible for the collection, receipt, and decontamination of all used soiled medical supplies, surgical instruments, and medical equipment. Knowledgeable in determining what specific means are utilized to accomplish cleaning, disinfecting and/or pre-sterilization of complex diagnostic medical/surgical equipment, implantable devices, and medical apparatus. Sterile Preparation/Processing and Assembly Inspects the assembly, packaging and terminal sterilization of all medical surgical instrumentation sets, implantable devices and oversees the packaging for use throughout the Medical Center, Operating Room and specialty clinics. Knowledgeable in sterilization methods, operation of sterilizers and interpretation of biological testing. Endoscopic Reprocessing Inspects assembly, packaging and high-level disinfection of all Endoscopic instrumentation and oversees the packaging for use throughout the Medical Center, Operating Room and specialty clinics. Knowledgeable in high-level disinfection methods, operation of the Automated Endoscopic Reprocesses and interpretation of residual bio-burden testing. Supervisory Controls Works under the general supervision of the Chief of SPS, who reports to the Chief Nurse Executive. Exercises independent judgment and action on a routine basis. Supervisory liaison between SPS and the Clinical Staff and is expected to take the initiative in resolving problems. Responsible for exercising independent judgment in aligning administrative controls, planning, training, and directing of all functional activities with service plans, goals, and policies. Exercises independent judgment and control in all technical matters within the scope of the functional activity. Responsible for planning, designing and administering the activities of SPS and providing leadership and direction to subordinates. Provides supervision to SPS staff. Work Schedule: 7:00am - 3:30pm, Monday - Friday Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN15EDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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- Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English. Experience and/or 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- Two full year of graduate education or a master's degree 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. OR 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. 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-9 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief Experience- One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08). GS-09 Assignment- The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommends promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holds corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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 backgrounds. 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. Preferred Experience: 5 years experience with progressive experience in a leadership role. Certification in SPS related field preferred. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-47. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. Physical Requirements: The work requires some walking and standing during a normal workday. Some heavy lifting may be required. Travel is required to seminars/conferences and other VA facilities as needed. The employee will routinely alternate between a contaminated and a carefully controlled clean environment. In both, the employee is required to wear special protective clothing, which is often uncomfortably warm and restrictive. If processing contaminated supplies, the employee must wear a hair cover, gloves, impervious gown and impervious shoe covers. The work area may be confining, hot and humid and the employee subject to falls from slipping on wet floors, burns from handling hot surgical trays, cuts associated with the handling of surgical instruments, and dermatitis from various cleaning agents used during disinfection procedures. Unpleasant orders are encountered frequently during the processing of items. The work area can be quite noisy due to the clatter of metal upon metal when working with instruments and trays, the rumble of carts, and the operations of sterilizing equipment, ultrasonic cleaners, and automatic transport systems. Work is performed in a Medical Center setting and involves regular and recurring exposure to contagious disease, to various hazards from processing equipment and exposure to exposure to extreme temperature changes. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. 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. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. 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 accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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.