Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

This position is located in the Sterile Processing Services (SPS) section at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. Censitrac Systems Administrator medical supply technician manages the oversight of the SPS automated equipment tracking system (Censitrac) in the Sterile Processing Services. Duties: The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (SPS) position duties and responsibilities, exercised throughout all clinical and patient care areas of the Medical and Surgical hospital with a specialty Spinal Cord Care Unit. Duties include, but are not limited to: Responsible for the direct supervision of day-to-day operations in SPS. Communicate daily with customers to facilitate uninterrupted and consistently accurate flow of necessary RMD supplies for procedures. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees, providing for and arranging for needed development and training. Advises the Assistant Chief and Chief, SPS of problems in the organization's activities, and provides input to the Assistant Chief that may lead to disciplinary actions, such as counseling and formal disciplinary action, within the framework of progressive discipline; recommendation may include termination, especially separation during the probationary period. Collaborates with the SPS Leadership, directs the overall activities of Electronic Instrument Tracking System (i.e., Censitrac). Generates and reviews Electronic Instrument Tracking System reports to ensure compliance with all SPS policies and procedures. Ensures appropriate instrument marking techniques are utilized for the identification of and tracking of instrumentation. Performs data entry for new instrument sets, equipment, and procedural trays. Uses a consistent format and naming nomenclature for instrumentation and containers. Initiates tracking reports and data analysis for SPS. Assists in the development and implementation of electronic competency assessment to include for orientation, training and ongoing changes as new features are added. Review performance Electronic Instrument Tracking System problems/errors as they occur and suggest ways to prevent reoccurrence. Works with Electronic Instrument Tracking System Vendors (i.e., Censis Technologies, Inc)in troubleshooting documentation issues or system performance issues. The position may be assigned to work "as needed" on other tours of duty. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Flexible with rotating evenings and weekends. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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 #: 10428F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 :Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or One year of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work or 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; Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable Highly desired : Certification CHL & CRCST GRADE Determination: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the lower grade level (GS-7) directly related to Medical Supply Technician work. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 7). Assembles highly complex instrument sets including, but not limited to, open heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation. Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology and operating room. Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating and sterilizing RME. Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment. Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines. Assignment: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 and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. GS-8 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1). Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. 2). Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed 3). Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME. 4). 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation); endoscope reprocessing room and in other SPS services areas throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly or. brightly lighted. The work requires proper body mechanics when standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending, twisting and lifting of packages / instrument trays, transport bins, (weighing as much as 50 pounds). Transportation of RME between buildings and clinics requires the loading and unloading of soiled, clean and sterile RME. Requires the pushing and pulling of case carts and flatbed hand trucks weighing several hundred 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 sterilizers or accidentally touching hot items. The employee may be exposed to sterilizing gasses and liquids during their normal workday. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, bone; some of which may be foul smelling. 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-8 You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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/examination. 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 interest. In 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. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.