LEAD MEDICAL SUPPLY TECHNICIAN

Summary

The Milo C. Huempfner VA Medical Clinic located in Green Bay, Wisconsin is recruiting for a Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing Services). In this position, the incumbent will provide leadership for SPS staff responsible for providing sterilization, preparation, supply items and decontamination support for the medical center.

Duties

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Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Leads a unit or team of employees performing work at the GS-6 level or below. Provides guidance and technician direction for accomplishing the work of the unit or team.
• Ensures work assignments of employees in the unit or team are carried out.
• Works with the Supervisory MST, Chief and Assistant Chief, SPS, in the assignment of functions to team members in order to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities.
• Distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow, job specialization and/or capabilities of individual.
• Is a working Lead Technician, responsible for filling in and for distributing the workload in case of personnel shortages or short notice priorities, to ensure a smooth workflow.
• Ensures timely accomplishment of assigned tasks, and ensures that each employee has enough work to keep busy.
• When necessary, revises work schedule to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload.
• Assigns work to employees or assigns employees to position. Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform the task.
• Assigns work, including overtime, disagreeable or choice tasks, etc., equitably among employees.
• Explains work requirements, methods and procedures, as needed, giving special instructions on difficult or different operations and answering technical questions about the task.
• Monitors status and progress of work and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities.
• Maintains a current knowledge and answers questions of other employees relating to procedures, policies and directives.
• Trains or arranges for the training of team members in the accomplishment of tasks or projects. Gives on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices.
• Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to see that the supervisor's instructions on priorities, methods, deadlines and quality assurance have been met.
• Obtains assistance and/or needed information from the supervisory staff on problems that may arise or backlogs that cannot be disposed of promptly.
• Amends or rejects work not meeting established standards.
• Refers questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards to the supervisory staff.
• Checks the cleaning, reprocessing and distribution of technical medical equipment, materiel and instrumentation as deemed appropriate to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee. Ensures that items are safe to use, delivered on time at the proper place, and in the correct condition to be properly used for VA patient care.
• Monitors working conditions such as seating, ventilation, lighting or safety.
• Approves emergency leave for a few hours or for emergencies in the absence of supervisory staff.
• Informs employees about the policies, procedures and goals of the service as they relate to the work of the unit and changes thereto.
• Reports to the supervisor on performance, progress and training needs of employees, and on behavior problems. Informs supervisor of employees' participation, suggestions, and reactions.
• Resolves simple, informal complaints of employees and refers others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to the supervisor or an appropriate management official.
• Conducts and records competencies on individuals for the proper reprocessing of RME, following established checklists devised by supervisory staff and approved by Infection Control.
• Performs quality assurance inspections of instruments and equipment in the Sterile Preparation area of SPS prior to items being wrapped and sterilized.
• Conducts inspection of the Decontamination area of SPS to verify that proper techniques and processes are being followed by staff and that all equipment is working properly.
• Inspects to verify that all instrumentation is disassembled to the simplest form.
• Inspects all instrumentation for cleanliness and to assure that it is in good working order, checking lock boxes, alignment, sharpness and general operation.
• Independently prepares the full range of trays and sets necessary to be used in wards, clinic areas, dental clinic and OR.
• Effectively processes and sterilizes a wide variety of instrumentation, to include implant devices, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, and ensures that they are held for the required time post sterilization per regulations.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm (possibly variable between 6:30am and 6:30pm)

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel may be required up to 10% of time but is rarely needed.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical 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.

Qualifications

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.

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:

• U.S. Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• 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 Determinations:

GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with Medical Supply Technician responsibilities. Experience at this level includes, but is not limited to: Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area; disassembling the RME and determining the correct cleaning method, such as ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers, and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by the manufacturer instructions; inspecting, assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
• Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
• Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
• Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments.

References: VA Handbook 5005/83 Part II Appendix G47 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard GS-0622

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.