Health Technician - Surgical Technician

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/04/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists.

Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. GS-6 EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in Federal Service that has given you the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician.

Specialized experience requires the application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of surgical technician work and includes preparing sterile fields for surgical procedures; monitoring and maintaining aseptic techniques throughout surgical procedures; handling medical instruments, supplies, and equipment during surgical procedures; performing proper cleaning techniques, as well as the proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies; properly handling contaminated items applying knowledge of universal precautions and implementing infection control policies and procedures.

01Preferred Experience

Minimum 3 years of Surgical Technician experience. Certified Surgical Technologist preferred. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties of this position include, but are not limited to: Functions as primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures. Sets up the sterile field with all required items for all procedures, such as air powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment and other operating room supplies and equipment.

Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handing specimens, supplies and equipment. Performs sponge and instrument counts with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN) to verify accuracy. Responsible for the accountability for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure. Communicates effectively with all perioperative team members.

Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Prepares, organizes and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups. Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time. Maintains competency in regard to sterilization parameters and operative sterile technique.

• Assists the team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies Handles specimens appropriately.
• Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures.
• Prepares prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures.

Labels fluids and medications on the sterile field Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, Operating Room (OR) technology students, and new OR staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical procedures. Functions as second circulator for complex surgical procedures.

Provides transportation of patients to and from the OR, as assigned Accounts for the availability of correct prosthetics in the room, follows established procedure regarding implant inventory and prosthetic tracking. Follows correct site surgery policies. Assists in the implementation and utilization of the Inventory Supply Tracking tomaintain adequate surgical supplies. This includes, but is not limited to: re-stocking the OR cabinets, specialty carts, and other secondary storage containers.

• Maintains Equipment and Work Areas.
• Provides guidance and support to nursing assistants, other surgical technicians (OR nursing assistants), and/or any other novice scrub support staff.
• Provides guidance and support to professional and technical students of an approved surgical technology program.
• Assists surgical team members in quality improvement activities.
• Updates personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through continuing education courses.

Assists in developing and maintaining appropriate and cost-effective inventory practices. Utilizes universal precautions in all work functions. Additional duties as necessary. Work Schedule: Variable hours, eight hour shift between the hours of 7:00am - 5:00pm with on call evenings, weekends, and holidays, with a 1 hour response time for on call. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Surgical Technician/PD00465A and PD00465A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of who are at stages of unconsciousness.

There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. The ST must be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon.