The Assistant Chief contributes to the oversight of all supervision, administrative management, and direction of the SPS at the Veterans Affairs Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS). Oversees all decontamination, sterilization, and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g.) b. Experience and/or Education (1) Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or (2) 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 (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Grandfathering Provision: 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). 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. Physical Requirements. This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the health care system/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, Needle Sticks, and other injuries from handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of sterile products and 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Grade Determinations: GS-09 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief (a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must meet one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Serving as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work; holding corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management; resolving informal complaints of employees and dealing with union representatives on personnel matters; providing technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements. 2. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. 3. Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements. 4. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. 5. Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties, including assigning, planning and evaluating work, recommending awards, approving leave, identifying training needs, and resolving staff issues. 6. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. 7. Ability to manage, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget. (c) Assignment. The Assistant Chief contributes to the oversight of all supervision, administrative management and direction of the SPS. Oversees all decontamination, sterilization and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations. Contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation and fiscal management. Makes selections, assigns personnel and provides direction to subordinate staff. Manages the training, documenting and evaluating of staff. Serves as liaison between SPS and other departments.
The incumbent will provide direct supervision of the staff and operations of sterilization, preparation, supply items and decontamination support for the health care system. Duties and responsibilities includes but are not limited to the following: Sets up, uses, reprocesses, and maintains all unit/department-specific equipment that is designed by the manufacturer to be reused for multiple patients. All steps and activities for set ups, reprocessing, and maintenance will be completed in accordance with steps outlined in the equipment Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Participates in training in the set-up, use, reprocessing, and maintenance of their unit/department-specific equipment leading to the initial competency and validation of ongoing competency at least annually. Uses equipment appropriately and demonstrates and/or verbalizes the proper use, reprocessing, and maintenance. The reprocessing may be done by the individual on the unit. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well. Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method, such as, but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions. Inspects, assembles, and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high-level disinfecting scope reprocessors. instructs staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments; communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules, and regulations. Maintains current knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures. Leads individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. Plans and project staffing needs and requirements. Manages, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements. Develops and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. Performs a full range of supervisory duties, including assigning, planning, and evaluating work, recommending awards, approving leave, identifying training needs, and resolving staff issues. Evaluates new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. Manages, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget. Follows and ensures staff abides by the established safety and infection control standards, policies, and procedures. Provides oversight for development and implementation of a standardized education/training program, including a staff development program beginning with an initial orientation program for new SPS employees, Level 1 training, and recurring on-the-job training for all SPS employees. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (Work schedule may be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency) Compressed/Flexible: Not available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92522O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required