SHSMD Career Center

The incumbent is the Chief, Sterile Processing Service (SPS), responsible for the planning, direction, and management of all areas of the SPS Department to include Decontamination, Sterile Preparation, Non-Biological Implantable Devices, Reusable Medical Device reprocessing and Inventory Control for the White River Junction (WRJ) VA Medical Center. 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 applicant's 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. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to manage SPS operations. 2. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. 3. Ability to integrate SPS managerial duties, which includes strategic planning of facility organizational goals and integration of SPS vision and values within the organizational mission. 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. 5. Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions. 6. Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs. 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). Grade Determinations: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-9. References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: The work requires some walking and standing during a normal workday. Some lifting and carrying of moderately heavy items are required occasionally. ["This vacancy will be posted via two announcements for two different occupational series which can be considered to fill this vacancy - Nurse or Supervisory Medical Supply Technician. Duties include but are not limited to:\nPerforms first and second-level supervisory duties.\nTechnical advisor and consultant on SPS matters for the facility and outlying CBOC's.\nEnsures all staff are trained and competent to perform duties and administers formal VACO SPS Level One training to all employees.\nMaintains a detailed in-service training program to ensure staff receives the minimum continuing education units to maintain certification or competency.\nSupports the VISNs objectives and encourages staff towards national certification through the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management or Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution.\nThe Chief, SPS will be Level 2 certified through the VA National SPS Certification Program as required by VA Office of Sterile Processing and maintain the certification requirements.\nResponsibility for exercising independent judgment in aligning administrative controls, planning and training and directing all functional activities within the service plans, goals, and policies.\nExercises independent judgment and control in all technical matters within the scope of the functional activity.\nAssigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees.\nEvaluates work performance of subordinates, including subordinate supervisors. Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to supervisors and employees on both work and administrative matters.\nThe Chief, SPS has personal contact with executive facility leadership, service chiefs, nursing staff, physicians, SPS personnel, facility/system staff, VHA SPS Program Executive, counterparts at other VA facilities, and counterparts at local healthcare facilities.\nThe Chief, SPS must apply a broad range of supervisory and SPS principles, procedures, and practices, Program planning and administration require analysis and testing of a variety of techniques/methods to evaluate alternatives and arrive at decisions and recommendations.\nThe Chief, SPS must be able to interpret and administer guidelines from outside regulatory agencies, such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Joint Commission, Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).\nDecontamination Section The Chief, SPS is responsible for managing the collection and receipt of all soiled instrumentation, reusable supplies, and equipment from throughout the WRJVA Medical Center.\nThe Chief, SPS is responsible to maintain and sustain the inventory tracking system.\nThe Chief, SPS is responsible directing and managing cleaning, high level disinfection activities for over 200 endoscopes per month for the Respiratory, ENT/Speech Clinic and GI utilizing various High-Level Disinfectant solutions/processors. The Chief, SPS manages the quality assurance program and a robust electronic tracking system (Censitrac) that verifies safety of all RME and oversees the management of standard operating procedures and competency verification for all personnel involved in reprocessing activities.\nSterile Preparation Section The Chief, SPS is responsible for directing and managing the identification, assembly, and sterilization of instrument trays for surgical and clinic procedures across the facility.\nThe incumbent electronically tracks and manages a large instrument inventory and monitors use and replacements of surgical implants in sterile trays.\nThe incumbent ensures all staff are trained and evaluated for competency in assembling these complex instrument trays and operation of highly technical equipment.\nReusable Medical Equipment (RME) Program\nThe Chief, SPS is responsible for providing technical oversight of all reprocessing of RME and equipment used in the facility and affiliated sites (e.g., Community-Based Outpatient Clinics) regardless of organizational alignment.\nInventory Control The Chief, SPS is responsible for ensuring the availability and control of many separately recurring reusable medical/surgical supplies and equipment, which have difficult supply and demand patterns due to the mission of the facility. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 405-F04184\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]