Surgical Technician

Summary The Surgical Technician supports surgeons and nurses in the Operating Room by preparing sterile environments - managing instruments and equipment - and assisting with complex surgical procedures. The role ensures safe - efficient surgical care and contributes to quality patient outcomes at the West Palm Beach VA Health Care System. Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/06/2026. Preferred Experience: - Certified Surgical Technologist (CST or TS-C) with an accredited Associate Degree - or completion of a recognized surgical technician program - Minimum of 3 years of hands‑on surgical technology experience (1-3 years of hospital experience strongly preferred) - Demonstrated proficiency with robotic platforms - including MAKO and DaVinci systems - Clinical experience across multiple service lines such as ophthalmology - endovascular procedures - and orthopedics Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Performing primary scrub duties across multiple surgical specialties; preparing and maintaining sterile fields and complex instrument sets; anticipating surgeon needs during routine and advanced procedures; applying aseptic and infection control principles; managing and troubleshooting surgical equipment; handling and verifying specimens; assisting with patient positioning and procedural preparation; maintaining OR readiness and safety; collaborating with surgical - nursing - SPS - logistics - and vendor staff; utilizing surgical databases and adhering to VA - RME - and policy requirements; and responding appropriately to perioperative changes and emergent situations. Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Infection Control Information Assurance Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Effectiveness Interpersonal Skills Organizational Awareness Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The position requires long periods of standing - walking - bending - and stooping. The incumbent must lift - carry - and move moderately heavy items and assist with patient transfers. Duties require holding retractors and maintaining awkward positions for extended periods. The role demands manual dexterity for handling instruments and the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced - high-stress surgical environment with exposure to bodily fluids - chemicals - and radiation - using appropriate protective equipment. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Duties Primary Duties: - Perform primary scrub duties for diverse surgical specialties - Prepare - organize - and maintain sterile fields - instruments - and equipment - Anticipate surgeon needs and support all phases of surgical procedures - Adhere to infection control standards and handle specimens appropriately - Assist with patient positioning - preparation - and procedural support - Maintain OR equipment - supplies - and safe work areas - Support staff training - collaboration - and quality improvement - Comply with VA policy - aseptic standards - and patient privacy requirements Work Schedule: 7:00am - 3:30pm on call nights - weekends - and holidays Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD03055A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation/Recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. #J-18808-Ljbffr