Surgical Technician

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration, at the Syracuse VA Medical Center in the Nursing Service, Perioperative care. The Surgical Technician is a member for the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team.

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Duties

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Duties include, but not limited to:

• Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals to determine positioning for optimum exposure and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups. Monitors and maintains sterile field.
• 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.
• Utilizes universal precautions to protect patients and staff from exposure to Bloodborne pathogens and other infectious materials. Follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.
• Assists the team members with care of the patient such as positioning, prepping, and setting up the operative field once the patient is anesthetized.
• Understands and follows protocols for handling various specimens: e.g. frozen sections, muscle biopsy, cultures, pathology, etc.
• 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. Assures safe and appropriate handling of instruments and equipment at the surgical field. Cleans and decontaminates instruments according to manufacturers' instructions during and after the procedure.
• Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, operating room technology students, and new Operating Room (OR) staff about the importance of surgical conscience and in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/ PD07031A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Physical Requirements: The position primarily involves work performed in both sitting and standing positions. Standing and bending for prolonged period, walking, lifting up to 50 pounds, kneeling, and some climbing of stairs may be required. The work requires manual dexterity, a large degree of concentration, and working at top speed for several hours at a time. The ability to distinguish colors and color intensity are required. 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.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/24/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirement:

Specialized Experience: 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.

OR,

FOR GS-5 ONLY: Education and Training: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.

Specialized Experience is required in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS 05 grade level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given me the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. This experience must demonstrate knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic techniques necessary to prepare and maintain the sterile field during surgery. Candidates must be familiar with sterilization methods, including sterilizer operations, effectiveness testing, packing, storage, and shelf life. They must understand proper cleaning techniques, detergent selection, sterile supply rotation, and handling contaminated items in accordance with infection control policies. The ability to recognize and respond to procedural needs, anticipate surgical team requirements, and identify instruments, equipment, and supplies required for complex surgical procedures is essential. Experience in handling surgical specimens, assisting with implantable devices, and understanding medication dosages for surgical use is also required. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate effective communication skills to interact professionally with physicians, nurses, patients, and other medical personnel.

NOTE: 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.

OR,

Successfully completed 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation of Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

GS 06 grade level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given me the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. This experience must reflect the ability to perform all tasks required at the GS-5 level while also demonstrating developmental proficiency in the duties expected at the GS-7 full performance level. The candidate should have increasing responsibility for anticipating surgical team needs, responding to emergency conditions, and ensuring the proper function of surgical instruments and equipment. Experience must also include a deeper understanding of infection control measures, sterilization protocols, and the handling of reusable medical equipment (RME). At this level, the incumbent is expected to gain proficiency in selecting instruments based on procedural requirements, preparing implantable devices, and ensuring proper storage and reprocessing of medical equipment. While the full range of GS-7 duties is not initially expected, the applicant should demonstrate the ability to learn and apply advanced surgical techniques under appropriate training and supervision. Strong communication skills and the ability to follow standard operating procedures for RME handling are essential.

OR,

Successfully completed one-half year of graduate education (9 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

GS 07 grade level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given me the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. This experience must include comprehensive knowledge of surgical procedures, instrumentation, and sterile technique, including sterilizer operations, packing, storage, and infection control protocols. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to anticipate the needs of the surgical team, respond quickly and accurately during procedures, and recognize and manage emergency conditions. Proficiency in handling surgical specimens, including proper collection, labeling, and preservation for diagnostic purposes, is required. The ability to prepare and manage implantable devices such as prosthetic joints, pacemakers, and vascular grafts is also necessary. Experience in reprocessing reusable medical equipment, ensuring compliance with manufacturer guidelines, and following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is expected. The applicant must exhibit strong knowledge of patient positioning, assist anesthesia providers as needed, and maintain a working understanding of medical terminology and pharmacology relevant to the sterile field. Effective communication skills are required to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, provide instruction when needed, and ensure the highest level of patient care.

OR,

Successfully completed one year of graduate education (18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

NOTE: 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.

Preferred Experience: Surgical technician experience

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.

Education

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: 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:

Additional information

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

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

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

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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