Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

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. 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.

02Grade Determinations

GS-08 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 7). Assembles highly complex instrument sets including, but not limited to, open heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation. Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology and operating room.

Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating and sterilizing RME. Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment.

Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines. Assignment: The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules.

Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommends promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holds corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters.

Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): 1. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. 2. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed. 3. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

03Physical 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.

The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (MST) serves as a first-level supervisor responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing the work of assigned MST staff. Responsibilities include managing attendance and leave, approving work schedules, identifying staffing needs, recommending personnel actions, resolving employee concerns, coordinating with union representatives on personnel matters, and providing technical supervision to ensure successful accomplishment of organizational goals.

The incumbent also identifies employee training and development needs and supports staff growth through appropriate training opportunities.. Duties include, but are not limited to: Supervises day-to-day operations of Sterile Processing Service (SPS), ensuring efficient workflow and compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Coordinates with clinical customers to support the timely availability of reusable medical devices (RMD) and instrumentation for patient care activities.

Oversees the Electronic Instrument Tracking System (EITS), including system administration, data integrity, instrument traceability, reporting, and compliance monitoring. Generates, reviews, and analyzes tracking data and reports to support operational performance, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. Ensures proper instrument identification, marking, and tracking practices are maintained throughout SPS operations.

• Maintains and updates EITS records for instrument sets, trays, equipment, and related assets using standardized naming conventions.
• Monitors system performance, identifies process improvement opportunities, and coordinates troubleshooting activities with vendors and SPS leadership.
• Assists in the development and implementation of training, competency assessments, and ongoing staff education related to instrument tracking systems and SPS processes.

Provides recommendations to SPS leadership regarding operational issues, workforce management, and corrective actions to support organizational objectives. Performs other duties as assigned, including work on alternate tours, shifts, weekends, and holidays as required to support SPS operations. Work Schedule: Full Time-Sunday through Friday 11:00pm to 7:30am. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F07998 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

04Preferred Experience

Recent supervisory experience 3-5 years of sterile processing service experience Advanced knowledge of specialty instrumentation Preferred Professional sterile processing certification Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is NOT in a Bargaining Unit. This position is covered by a special salary rate. Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action).

The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. No award SF50's will be accepted. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.