Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

The Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) position is located with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Sterile Processing Service at the San Francisco VA Medical Center in San Francisco, CA.
Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week; Monday - Sunday, including Holidays;
Rotating Shifts: 7:00AM - 3:30PM, 7:30AM - 4:00PM, 9:30AM- 6:00PM, 3:00PM-11:30PM; 11:00PM - 7:30AMQualifications:Basic Requirements:
1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
2. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English.
3. 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.
Grandfathering Provision: 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-7, Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

• Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• 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: SPS Certification from OSP, HSPA and or CBSPD preferred.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83, PART II, APPENDIX G47, Dated July 8, 2015.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7.
Physical Requirements: The 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 is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.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/.Employment Type: FULL_TIME