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Supervisory Medical Support Technician (Sterile Processing) Assistant Chief

Veterans Health Administration

Job Location:

Fort Meade, MD - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 68687 - 68687

Posted: 6 October 2026 (19 days ago)

Application Deadline: 22 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

The Assistant Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is a direct report to the Chief of SPS of the VA Black Hills Healthcare System a Complexity 2 facility. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of sterile processing service focused on high level disinfection sterilization sterile storage infection control and prevention staff education self-management and customer satisfaction throughout the delivery of services provided by SPS.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

Responsible and accountable for all elements of providing supervision in the SPS program.
Assesses plans implements and evaluates outcomes in the SPS program.
Functions as the first-level supervisor and demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to impact oversight of the department Medical Supply Technicians Lead Technician and Reusable Medical Device (RMD) Coordinator.
Provides leadership for critical and semi-critical RMD including sterile storage reprocessing standard operating procedures (SOP) competency assessment selection operation and maintenance of reprocessing equipment staff education program for RMDs and quality management of SPS.
Assists the Chief of SPS with assessing monitoring developing and implementing corrective action plans for instrument processing decontamination sterilization storage biological monitoring and high-level disinfection monitoring through an SPS quality management system.
Incumbent has knowledge in areas of patient care practices microbiology asepsis disinfection/sterilization processes adult education infectious diseases communication and program administration.
Specific activities include but are not limited to education program development evaluating concepts and project development mentoring staff and medical providers in sterile processing principles and in the implementation of projects data collection techniques and developing evidence-based guidelines and protocols.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Mountain Standard Time
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 $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)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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.
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.

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.

Qualifications

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
(1) Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work;
or
(2) 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
(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
Certification. None.
English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j this part.

Grade Determinations:
GS-09 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief
Experience
Requirement: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Serving as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work; holding corrective interviews with employees referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management; resolving informal complaints of employees and dealing with union representatives on personnel matters; providing technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational 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.

References: For more information on this qualification standard please visit: Experience: 2-5 years in Sterile Processing 1-2 years leadership experience and SPS related certification

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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: 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:

Additional information

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.

The VA Midwest Health Care Network 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.

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.

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.

Review our 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:

Chief

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