Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

The Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST) works with the Chief and Assistant Chief for SPS in the assignment of duties to team members GS-6 and below.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees.
• Ensures timely accomplishment of assigned tasks.
• Revises work schedule to meet changes in the workload.
• Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with experience and training.
• Explains work requirements methods and procedures on difficult or different operations and answers technical questions.
• Provides on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices.
• Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to see that the supervisors instructions on priorities methods deadlines and quality assurance have been met.
• Obtains assistance from the supervisory staff on problems that may arise;
• Amends or rejects work not meeting established standards.
• Refers questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards to the supervisory staff.
• Checks the cleaning reprocessing and distribution of technical medical equipment materiel and instrumentation to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee.
• Ensures that items are safe to use delivered on time at the proper place and in the correct condition to be properly used for VA patient care.
• Monitors working conditions such as seating ventilation lighting or safety.
• Approves emergency leave for a few hours or for emergencies in the absence of supervisory staff.
• Informs employees about the policies procedures and goals of the service.
• Reports to the supervisor on performance progress and training needs of employees and on behavior problems.
• Informs supervisor of employees participation suggestions and reactions.
• Conducts and records competencies on individuals for the proper reprocessing of RME following established checklists devised by supervisory staff and approved by Infection Control.
• Performs quality assurance inspections of instruments and equipment in the Sterile Preparation area of SPS prior to items being wrapped and sterilized.
• Conducts inspection of the Decontamination area of SPS to verify that proper techniques and processes are being followed by staff and that all equipment is working properly.
• Inspects to verify that all instrumentation is disassembled to the simplest form.
• Inspects all instrumentation for cleanliness and to assure that it is in good working order checking lock boxes alignment sharpness and general operation.
• Independently prepares the full range of trays and sets necessary to be used in wards clinic areas and dental clinic.
• Effectively processes and sterilizes a wide variety of instrumentation to include implant devices in accordance with manufacturers recommendations and ensures that they are held for the required time post sterilization per regulations.
• Completes training coursework and VA SPS certification as required for a Sterile Processing Technician position in the VA.
• Maintains certification by completing approved annual Continuing Education Units (CEU) and annual in-service hours.
• Maintains current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning disinfection sterilization and preparation of RME appropriate to this position.

Work Schedule: Full-time Monday through Friday 1500-2330
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 04067A

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA.
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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
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 $144000 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).

• 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.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 applicants 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.
• Certification. None.
• Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation. Please note that this position is above the full performance level.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS
Creditable Experience

1. Knowledge of Current MST Practices. To be creditable the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST.
2. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level the higher level duties must consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity (difficulty).
3. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example a MST employed 20 hours a week or on a 1/2-time basis would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

Grade Determinations
In addition to the basic requirements the following criteria must be met by the candidate.

GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

• Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area; disassembling the RME and determining the correct cleaning method such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners mechanical washers cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents as determined by manufacturer instructions; inspecting assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam Sterrad Steris ETO and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors; performing and documenting daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
2. Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives rules and regulations.
3. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees team leaders and managers.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
5. Ability to lead individuals manage priorities and schedule work assignments.

• Assignment. The Lead MST works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Assures an even workflow and distribution of the workload. Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns work to staff based on experience and training needs. Monitors and reports on the status of work. Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow. Reviews work in progress or spot checks work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors instructions on such things as work sequence procedures methods and deadlines. Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning reprocessing and distribution of technical medical equipment material and instrumentation. Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues assignment changes and task completion. Instructs employees on work-related activities policies procedures and goals.

Preferred Experience: Three years ofSterile Processing experience. Experience with endoscope reprocessing for 2 years minimum. Experience applying quality assurance skills. Ability to assess for the application of best practice. Attention to detail time management problem-solving testing experience and survey experience. Must have a good reputation with an unwavering commitment to meticulous production.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Former VA Handbook Reference: Part II Appendix G47 Effective Date: May 28 2014

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Requirements: As required by VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This work is performed in various settings: decontamination preparation clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. May be required to work in areas that are hot cold drafty and poorly lighted. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.

On a regular and recurring basis the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing hair covers personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. Strong unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.