Lead Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing)

Summary VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon, outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Responsibilities The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The Lead MST is responsible for the lead duties in the Sterile Processing Service. Incumbent must be able to direct and lead SPS personnel and communicate effectively to ensure user unit needs are met on a consistent basis. Must be organized and detail oriented to provide direction to Medical Supply Technicians GS-0622-3/4/5/6 as to complete tasks in a timely accurate manner. Incumbent will accommodate special and emergent requirements through consultation and coordination with the medical/surgical professional staff. The incumbent advises medical personnel on the proper use of medical sterile equipment and problems that may arise. - Distributes and balances the workload among staff to ensure timely processing. - Keeps in touch with the status and progress of work, and makes just in time adjustments in accordance with established priorities. - Reports on expected time of completion of work and maintains records. Prepares reports as requested. - Instructs employees on specific tasks and job techniques and makes available written instructions and reference materials. - Provides/assists with onboarding and training of new employees. - Maintains current knowledge and answer questions of other employees on procedures, policies, directives, etc. - Spot checks work in progress and assists in reviewing completed work to see that instructions, work sequences, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met. - Amend or reject work not meeting established standards. Refers to the supervisor; questions or issues not covered by standards and/or problems in meeting performance standards. - Monitors working conditions such as seating, ventilation, lighting, safety, PPE, etc. - May inform employees of available services and employee activities. - Will resolve simple, informal complaints of employees, but refer more complex situations to the supervisor. - Reports to the supervisor on performance, progress, and training needs of employees. - Reports all behavior problems to supervisor. The incumbent will have knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) as required by this position. The incumbent will be required to maintain current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RMD appropriate to this position. The incumbent will be able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 3:00pm - 11:30pm PST Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. (2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations:GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience: One year experience to the next lower grade level; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Pushing, 2 hours; Reaching above shoulders; Use of Fingers; Both Hands Required; Walking, 2 hours; Standing, 4 hours; Repeated bending, 1 hour; Both Legs Required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Excessive heat Working around machinery with moving parts; Excessive cold; Constant Noise; Working hands in water; 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 During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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.