Summary

The Lead MST works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team within the EOVAHCS. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Monitors and reports on the status of work. Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• 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
• Certification
• None
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6)
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments
• Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives - rules and regulations
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees - team leaders - and managers
• Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures
• Ability to lead individuals - manage priorities - and schedule work assignments
• This vacancy is above the full performance level
• Preferred Experience: CRCST Certification Preferred - Sterile Processing Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The employee usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties
• There is frequent requirement for lifting individual instruments or instrument trays weighing up to 45 pounds from just above the floor to waist level and occasional requirements for similarly lifting baskets weighing up to fifty pounds
• The technician transports trays and equipment on carts that may weigh up to 300 pounds when full
• Employee must be acutely aware of safety requirements when moving these carts over slight rises such as door sills.

Duties

• Complete all application requirements detailed in the \"Required Documents\" section of this announcement
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to: Incumbent serves as the trainer/educator for all RME
• Receives - disassembles - and inspects for damage reusable medical - dental and surgical instruments and equipment
• Determines correct method for manual cleaning and disinfection
• Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other gross contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing - scrubbing - and use of ultrasound equipment
• Loads and operates washer disinfector - cart washer and sterilizers
• Removes items from washer/disinfector and determines type of tray or set to assemble based on recognition of key items and the operating room and clinic schedules
• Examines items to ensure that gross contamination has been removed
• Assembles sets and trays by selecting appropriate tray - lining it with a towel - and arranging instruments in the tray in the correct manner
• Selects correct sterilizing medium and cycles and operates sterilizer
• Monitors operation of sterilizer with prescribed tests
• Disassembles - cleans - lubricates - reassembles and sterilizes dental handpieces and numerous dental specialty instruments and trays
• All instruments are processed per manufacturer's guidelines
• Disassembles - leak tests - manually cleans - brushes - aspirates and flushes numerous flexible endoscopes
• High Level Disinfects and/or sterilizes according to the needs of the end user and strictly adhering to the manufacturer's guidelines
• Properly loads and operates sterilizers such as Steam - hydrogen peroxide gas plasma - and a high level disinfecting scope re-processor
• He/she selects correct sterilization method for items to be sterilized
• The incumbent monitors performance of sterilizers for quality control by conducting bacteriological tests (bacillus stearothermophilus spores for evaluation of steam and bacillus subtillis for evaluation of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizers)
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 9:00 am to 5:30 pm 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) Functional Statement #: 53238-A