Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Full Job Description

The Supv. Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing) position is assigned to the Sterile Processing Dept, located at the Beckley VA Medical Center.

The Supervisory MST, provides support for all matters of concern relating to procedures for the decontamination, high level disinfection, and/or sterilization of critical and semi-critical reusable medical instruments.

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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. Certification. None.

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. Physical Requirements. Described in VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy.

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) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

(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: GS-08 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience. One year of 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.

Preferred Experience: Sterile Processing Service Leadership experience within the past 5 years.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: The work is performed in a normal office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions.

SPS activity; however, must be carefully controlled to minimize potential exposure to blood, body fluids, and other hazardous chemicals/conditions, and ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, state, and local safety policies and regulations.

May be subjected to lifting to 25 pounds, sitting, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing various items while performing SPS daily tasks. Major Duties:

The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work.

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 on personnel matters.

Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.

Some duties include, but are not limited to: Collects, receives, inspects, decontaminates, high-level disinfects, and performs terminal sterilization of soiled supplies, instruments, equipment, and apparatus including complex diagnostic equipment and medical apparatus.

Dissembles completely and thoroughly and positions all parts of RMD to ensure the removal of bioburden, proper cleaning, and disinfection before sterilization.

Performs leak tests on Endoscopes to ensure that the watertight integrity of the scope is intact before initiating the cleaning and high-level disinfection process or terminal sterilization.

Inspects, assembles, packages, high-level disinfects, and sterilizes all instruments, instrument sets, and packs for use throughout the medical center.

Performs appropriate and safe reprocessing for all RMD by strictly adhering to the Quality Management Program (e.g., uses testers, bioburden checks, and instrument integrity checks) Operates all sterilization that pertains to sterilization processes such as Steam Sterilizers, Sterrad, Sterrad NX, heat sealers, and incubators.

Performs quality assurance activities including but not limited to monitoring biological and chemical indicators and integrators, Bowie Dick tests, time, and temperature logs, and ensures appropriate RMD checks are documented after sterilization or reprocessing.

Performs other quality assurance activities including verifying the accuracy of labeling, contents, cleanliness, working order, and sterilization parameters.

Evaluates gathered data and based upon findings, make recommendations to improve effectiveness or processes.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 hour tours with rotational tours to meet patient care needs and rotational call weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

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) 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 $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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized