Summary

This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service - James J. Peters VA Medical Center. This position is responsible for instructing staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 2 - 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 5 - 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred on a bi-weekly basis.

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 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
• English Language Proficiency
• MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• 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: GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Assignment
• The Lead MST works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team
• Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations
• Assures an even workflow and distribution of the workload
• Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload
• Assigns work to staff based on experience and training needs
• Monitors and reports on the status of work
• Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow
• Reviews work in progress or spot checks work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions on such things as work sequence - procedures - methods - and deadlines
• Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning - reprocessing - and distribution of technical medical equipment - material and instrumentation
• Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues - assignment changes and task completion
• Instructs employees on work-related activities - policies - procedures and goals
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments
• 2
• Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives - rules and regulations
• 3
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees - team leaders - and managers
• 4
• Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures
• 5
• Ability to lead individuals - manage priorities - and schedule work assignments
• Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years of hands on experience with reusable instrument reprocessing
• Certification as a Certified Medical Supply technician
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 7
• Physical Requirements: On a regular basis - the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a controlled clean environment
• The employee must wear hospital scrub tops and bottoms - protective equipment such as bouffant hair covers - cover jackets - shoe covers
• If assigned to the Decontamination room - the employee must wear protective equipment such as impervious gowns - knee high shoe covers - nitrile gloves - face mask/face shield and bouffant hair cover
• This attire can be uncomfortable at times
• The employee must also wear padded gloves when unloading washer disinfector racks and sterilization loading carts
• The employee may also be subjected to chemicals and noise hazards from toxic agents and loud decontamination and sterilization equipment
• Depending on the employee's assignment - standing for long periods of time will be required for manually cleaning reusable medical equipment
• The employee at times will be required to push carts weighing 75-500 pounds and lifting trays and packages weighing approximately 50 pounds
• Dexterity and normal visual acuity with or without corrective lenses is required for inspecting and assembling reusable medical equipment.

Duties

• The Lead MST works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team
• Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations
• Assures an even workflow and distribution of the workload
• Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload
• Assigns work to staff based on experience and training needs
• Monitors and reports on the status of work
• Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow
• Reviews work in progress or spot checks work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions on such things as work sequence - procedures - methods - and deadlines
• Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning - reprocessing - and distribution of technical medical equipment - material and instrumentation
• Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues - assignment changes and task completion
• Instructs employees on work-related activities - policies - procedures and goals
• Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position may include but are not limited to: Receives the day-to-day assignments from the supervisor - distributing and balances the workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and assures timely accomplishment of the assigned workload
• Monitor employees and equipment
• Makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities - obtaining assistance from the supervisor as needed for problems that may arise - and responsible for conducting walk through inspection of the work area with the supervisor to communicate status reports and work-related issues
• During performance reviews with the supervisor - provides information on employee under their leadership on performance and makes recommendations on ratings
• Instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques and makes available written instructions reference materials and supplies
• Give on-the-job training to new employees and assists with initial and ongoing competency-based assessments of permanent and temporary personnel in accordance with established procedures and practices
• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions of other employees on procedures - policies - directives - etc. - and obtains needed information or decision from supervisor on problems that arise
• Reviews completed work to see that supervisor's instructions on work sequence - procedures - methods and deadlines have been met
• Amends or rejects work not meeting established standards refers to supervisor questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards
• Resolves simple informal complaints of employees and refers others to supervisor
• Responsible for reporting to supervisor on performance - progress and training needs of employees - and on disciplinary problems
• Provide information to supervisor as requested concerning outstanding performance - and personnel needs
• Serves as a resource between the operating room - clinics and logistics
• Ensures changes to procedures or trays are logical and correct
• Inspects instruments for cleanliness - damage - and utilizes recommended procedures for testing the functionality of instruments
• Perform other duties as assigned - normally of a related nature
• Work Schedule: Monday To Friday 7am to 3:30pm 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: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 13618F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized