SHSMD Career Center

The incumbent works under the general administrative supervision of the Assistant Chief and Chief, Sterile Processing, and is responsible to him/her for implementing and managing the Sterile Processing Service activities within Medical Center policies. The incumbent is delegated maximum authority and flexibility to manage the service within the established policies and procedures set forth in VHA and medical Center publications. 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. 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 Level GS-08 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Requirements: In addition to the basic qualifications above, applicant must meet the grade level requirements AND Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities below: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience include but not limited to: Oversees a work team that includes at least one Medical Supply Technician. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees. Assures even distribution of the workload. Revises work schedules. Provides training. Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues. AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the grade level 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/76 PART II APPENDIX G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08 and this announcement will be filled at the GS 08. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 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 accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, 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. ["Responsible for the direct supervision of day-to-day operations in SPS, regardless of tour of duty, including reusable medical equipment devices (RMD) reprocessing for all clinical services. Operationalizes the quality assurance program in daily practice in order to ensure that the right instrument, in the right condition, is in the right place, at the right time. In conjunction with the Educator, the Supervisor will be responsible for operational deployment of a comprehensive training program for all SPS staff. Communicate daily with customers in order to ensure open communication that results in uninterrupted and consistently accurate flow of necessary RMD supplies for procedures. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short term priorities and prepares schedules for completion of work. Plans and assigns work on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis and adjusts assignments during a workday to alleviate choke points in reprocessing activities. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, staff designation as competent to complete and task, and the capability of the employee. Participates in Interview Panels and makes recommendations regarding hiring decisions. Provides recommendations regarding promotion and advancement of the Medical Supply Technicians on respective shifts. Hears and resolves complaints from employees, referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees, providing for and arranging for needed development and training. Finds ways to improve production or increase the quality of work directed and assists in development of performance standards. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearing communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes workers' performance, demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Provides advice and counsel to workers related to technical work and administrative matters. Provides training to subordinates to fully comply with provisions of safety regulations. Makes operational decisions based upon findings, observations or problems presented by subordinate technicians and direct observation. Advises the SPS Assistant Chief and Chief in the organization's activities, and provides input to the Assistant Chief and 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. Directly oversees the work of employees under his/her supervision, orients new employees to their duties, validates competencies of employees, identifies equipment requirements, and recommends methods to improve the quality and productivity of the service. Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, to include weekends and holiday-on call Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Functional Statement #: 000000"]

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