The Hershel "Woody" Williams VAMC Sterile Processing Department supports patient care by ensuring proper reprocessing, maintenance, and storage of reusable medical devices (RMD) throughout the medical center in compliance with national and local policy and procedure. The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (MST) for Sterile Processing is responsible for first-level supervision of evening-shift MSTs who decontaminate, sterilize, and package RMD in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
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. 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. 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. Physical Requirements: As described in VA Directive and Handbook 5019 and below. 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-8: Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-8 you must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Distributing and prioritizing workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations; assuring an even workflow and distribution of the workload; revising work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload; assigning work to staff based on experience and training needs; monitoring and reporting on the status of work; reviewing work in progress or spot checking work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions on such things as work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines; assessing the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of technical medical equipment, material and instrumentation. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Frequently required to lift packages weighing 50 pounds and push carts weighing up to 300 pounds for distances up to 2,640 feet. The incumbent may be exposed to infected and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on Medical Center needs.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Functions or Scope of Practice: The Supervisory MST (Sterile Processing) GS-08, is at the full performance level for the position. The Supervisory MST is responsible for planning and directing the work of Medical Supply Technicians ensuring correct cleaning method per manufacturer instructions. 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. Incumbent has a clear understanding of the importance of reprocessing RMD according to manufacturer guidelines and the significant impact on the Veteran population through the risk of infectious disease. Incumbent performs MST activities including any and all the duties included in the functional statement of the MST 3,4,5 throughout the Medical Center during the assigned tour of duty. May receive guidance from more experienced staff members and may provide guidance to less experienced staff members but requires minimal direct supervision. Detailed functions for the GS-08 MST (Sterile Processing) include, but are not limited to: Responsible for the collection, receipt, inspection, cleaning and decontamination processing of soiled instruments, equipment, and apparatus to include complex diagnostic equipment and medical apparatus. Completely and thoroughly dissembles and positions all parts of complex technical RMD to ensure the removal of any debris, surgical soil and bioburdens prior to sterilization or high-level disinfection. Performs multi-step procedures to effectively reprocess endoscopes, i.e., cystoscopes, ureteroscopes, bronchoscopes, colonoscopes, and other various endoscopic instruments. Uses, interprets and records results from quality assurance monitors, i.e., Ruhof ATP Complete ATP tester system, All-Clean washer disinfector validation system, etc. Performs and validates all cleaning of instrumentation and RMD through the use of department SOPs, manufacturer's instructions for use guidelines, Medical Center Memorandums, and VA policies and directives, along with industry standards published by organizations. Operates equipment such as Minntech Medivator Advantage Plus, Trophon II, Steam Sterilizers, Sterrad 100 NX All Clear, Sterrad NX, heat sealers, tube dryers, and incubators or other sterilization, high level decontamination and packaging equipment. Interprets gauge readings and mechanical printouts on sterilization equipment to validate that sterilization of RMD is within acceptable parameters. Interprets printout for Automatic Endoscope Processors used for high level decontamination to ensure that disinfection has met all parameters. Maintains records for all sterilization procedures that are processed including interpretation of all biological monitoring, validation of monitoring results, and quality assurance checks to ensure sterilization parameters are met. Work Schedule: FT, Monday - Friday, 4:00pm - 12:30am Recruitment Incentive (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. Functional Statement #: PD051300