This Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) position is in Nursing Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System, located in Brockton, Massachusetts. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. Travel to Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury campus will be on an as needed basis.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/02/2025. 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: 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. 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: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs to the GS-6 grade level: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. Knowledge of sterility principles in regard to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. Candidate must also demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments. Skills in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations. Skills 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. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/76 PART II APPENDIX G47 The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: This 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 area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.
Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Lead MST, SPS interprets and follows the policies and procedures of the SPS Service to perform his/her daily functions within the established guidelines and demonstrates the ability to work effectively. The incumbent is required to have a broad knowledge of; and skill in applying, a wide range of sterilization and decontamination techniques, microbiology, quality control, and distinguishing between various medical/surgical instruments. The individual is accountable of maintaining SPS standards for the practice of all services and care lines and contributes to the fulfillment of the mission of the clinical areas. Participates in evaluating the decontamination, high level disinfection/sterilization process and pre-cleaning processes utilized throughout the medical center and CBOCs. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Leads a unit or team of employees performing work at the GS-6 level or below. Provides guidance and technician direction for accomplishing the work of the unit or team. Ensures work assignments of employees in the unit or team are carried out. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Works with the Chief and Assistant Chief, SPS, in the assignment of functions to team members in order to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities. Distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow, job specialization and/or capabilities of individual. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Is a working Lead Technician, responsible for filling in and for distributing the workload in case of personnel shortages or short notice priorities, to ensure a smooth workflow. Ensures timely accomplishment of assigned tasks and ensures that each employee has enough work to keep busy. When necessary, revises work schedule to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns work to employees or assigns employees to position. Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform the task. Explains work requirements, methods and procedures, as needed, giving special instructions on difficult or different operations and answering technical questions about the task. Monitors status and progress of work and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Maintains a current knowledge and answers questions of other employees relating to procedures, policies and directives. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:00AM - 3:30PM, with weekends, holidays, evenings and nights as needed. Shift hours are variable. Telework/Virtual/Remote Work: Not Authorized Functional Statement #: PDF02671 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current federal employees must submit copies of their most recent non-award SF50 (notice of personnel action). The SF50 must identify the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted). In some cases, more than one SF50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA Boston Healthcare System campuses and CBOC's. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Incomplete applications will not be considered.