Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing Coordinator)
Job Location:
Fort Wayne, IN - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The Medical Supply Technician (MST) CensiTrac Coordinator for Sterile Processing Service (SPS) for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) VISN 10 Northern Indiana Health Care System under the Chief of Sterile Processing and the Associate Director of Patient Care Services (ADPCS). SPS provides support to the Medical Center and five (5) Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located throughout Indiana and Ohio.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does not apply to the 0622 occupational series per OCHCO Bulletin for the annual determination of staffing shortages as required by 38 U.S.C. 7412 dated October 1 2025.
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: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English.
- 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.
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:
- 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.
- MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
- MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
Grade Determinations:
GS-07 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Coordinator:
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Practical knowledge of conventional fact-finding or investigative techniques in order to evaluate internal work processes.
- Skill to develop analyze and evaluate facts relative to unsatisfactory conditions or trends.
- Knowledge of and skill in applying various methods and techniques for investigating analyzing and recommending corrective action on complex quality problems.
- Knowledge of the SPS policies and procedural manuals infection control procedures and accrediting agencies and quality assurance guidelines to assure appropriateness of work during quality assurance reviews.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Word Excel and other software programs.
- Thorough knowledge of aseptic principles and techniques which include sterilized operations sterilizer mediums and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization packaging storage and shelf life.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives rules and regulations.
Preferred Experience: 1 year of program coordination and administrative program management. Level II sterile processing
certification (or higher) preferred. Associates degree or higher preferred.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.
Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination preparation sterile supply and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The MST may be required to work in areas that are hot cold drafty and poorly lit. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for prolonged periods of time frequent bending and stretching/reaching walking and pushing fully loaded carts which must be negotiated up inclines and over rises or positioning them.
There are frequent trips throughout the facility picking up soiled items or delivering clean/sterile devices. The employee usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties. There is frequent requirement for lifting individual instruments instrument trays and items weighing up to 50 pounds from just above the floor to above the head. The technician transports trays and devices on a variety of carts that may weigh several hundred pounds when full.
Employees must be acutely aware of safety requirements when moving these carts as they have areas that extend outside the visible area that can cause harm to other staff or equipment. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. Computer work and instrument sorting requires periods of intense visual concentration.
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 shoe covers and other appropriate personal protective equipment 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. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls scrapes cuts bruises and other injuries. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases are unknown. The employee often works around biohazardous materials such as body fluids mucous excretions and bits of tissue some of which may be foul smelling. Strong unpleasant odors may be encountered while decontaminating and disinfecting instrumentation or reusable medical devices.
The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments rumbling of carts and operation of cleaning disinfecting and sterilization equipment. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements such as annual TB screening or testing as a condition of employment.
Transcripts must be official or unofficial college transcripts. A copy of your certificate/degree or screenshot of your current classes are not a replacement of your transcript and they will not be used in the qualifying process. Your transcript must include your name and the name and full address of the institution.
If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying based on education you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.
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: 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:
Receiving Service Credit for 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.
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.
VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care you will operate in a model with three core elements seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants 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.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC
