Surgical Technician Recruitment Incentive Authorized

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized (2 year Service Agreement)

• Work Schedule: Day tour of duty with on call and some weekend requirements.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician - Recruitment Incentive Authorized/PD30189A
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• Primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures such as thoracic major vascular neurosurgery microsurgery & total joint replacement surgery.
• Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment fiber optic equipment laparoscopic equipment microscopic lasers arthroscopy equipment urologic equipment recording devices and other operating room supplies and equipment.
• Plans and anticipates need for unique specialty equipment and instrumentation hyperthermia equipment and fracture tables.
• Assures the surgical team of functioning equipment & assures proper lighting.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals & assures that all supplies & equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
• Prepares organizes and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups to facilitate type of surgical procedure.
• Maintains the sterility of the environment & independently plans for easy access to emergency instruments & equipment.
• Scrubs on complex surgical procedures utilizing strict aseptic techniques.
• Assists in preparation positioning & draping of patients to facilitate safe surgical intervention.
• Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time.
• Proficient in handing instruments/equipment to the surgeon and anticipates the surgeons needs during the procedure.
• Recognizes non-verbal signals by the surgeon and responds quickly and appropriately.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens supplies and equipment.
• Handles all specimens appropriately.
• Observes the surgical site continuously remaining attentive for potential adverse situations/emergencies and breaks in sterile techniques/fields.
• Performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy in conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse.
• Responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments & equipment during the surgical procedure.
• Reports correct/incorrect counts to the surgeon.
• Assumes joint responsibility with the surgeon for tissue specimens culture and hardware assuring that critical specimen information is transmitted to the circulating nurse.
• Assists in training residents medical student nursing students operating room technology students and new Operating Room (OR) staff in the operation of equipment sterile technique handling of instruments & OR procedure to include the scrub role in surgical procedures.
• Independently recognizes and remedies errors in sterile technique.
• Provides guidance and support to other Surgical Technicians professional and technical students of an approved surgical technology program.
• Lifts moves and transports patients from surgical wards within the OR suite recovery room and holding areas assuring safe transport of the anxious sedated/anesthetized patients. Safe transport includes being aware of drains hemodynamic lines IVs pumps catheters and proper positioning and protection of the surgical wound and maintenance of O2 to support airway when indicated.
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions.
• Maintains complicated surgical equipment and instrumentation for assigned specialty areas including inventory and establishment of levels for specialty supplies.
• Reviews and revises instrument sets to provide adequate instrumentation deleting unnecessary items to avoid duplication.
• Assures that instruments are in good working order.
• Continually assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials.
• Constantly updates knowledge of new surgical procedures and equipment.
• Recognizes potentially hazardous equipment situations; (i.e. frayed cords water on floor) and takes corrective action.
• Assists surgical team members in quality improvement activities.
• Work closely with OR RN staff to develop educational programs for presentation to peers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 09/30/2026.

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

Applicants must meet the Individual Occupation Requirement and Specialized Experience/Education. Each of these items are separate requirements.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for Health Aid and Technician Series (0640): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists speech pathologists medical officers and optometrists. Therefore technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge methods and techniques of the position to be filled.

In addition to the IOR candidates must also meet one of the following requirements:

• 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: Working in an operating room assisting surgeons during medical procedures setting up a sterile field with all required items for surgical procedures (i.e. air-powered equipment fiber optic equipment laparoscopic equipment microscopes lasers arthroscopy equipment urologic equipment recording devices and other operating room (OR) supplies and equipment etc.); Handling highly technical medical instruments during surgery; Using human anatomy physiology and aseptic technique; Handling specimens correctly; Prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery; Work with complex surgical procedures and possible complications; Report observations and immediate procedural needs; Recognize emergent complications; Operate the sterilization machine and use of proper cleaning/sterile technique for high level disinfecting of instruments; Proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies and handling of contaminated items quality control and personal hygiene; Implement infection control procedures; Store instruments and supplies properly to maintain sterility. OR
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate education with courses directly related to the work of the position to be filled.