The incumbent serves as the Chief, Sterile Processing Service (SPS). The incumbent is responsible for the planning, directing, and management of all areas of the SPS department to include Decontamination, Sterile Preparation, Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) reprocessing, and RME inspections of all locations in the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System (NAVAHCS) utilizing critical and semi-critical RME.
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. 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. Certification. None. 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. Please note, that this position is above the full performance level. 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 REQUIREMENTSCreditable Experience Knowledge of Current MST Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty). Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MST employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Grade Determinations The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-10 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Chief (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to manage SPS operations. 2. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. 3. Ability to integrate SPS managerial duties, which includes strategic planning of facility organizational goals and integration of SPS vision and values within the organizational mission. 4. 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. 5. Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions. 6. Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs. (c) Assignment. The Chief has the overall responsibility for the supervision, administrative management and direction of the SPS. Ensures SPS functions are in compliance with all regulatory mandates. Forecasts, plans, develops and manages the SPS program. Manages SPS personnel and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments. Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships, coordinates and resolves problems, and ensures cooperation with other programs and services. Manages the overall SPS budget including determining resource needs, allocating resources, and ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness of SPS operations. Formulates objectives, develops priorities and implements plans that support organizational goals. Ensures operations are in compliance with all safety, regulatory and accrediting requirements. Oversees orientation and training of staff. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) as required by the position. Incumbent is able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RME appropriate to this position. Incumbent has expert knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, principles, and procedures to plan programs and policies to ensure compliance with mandatory regulations. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional - Responsible for the planning, direction and management of programs designed to support the healthcare system with sterile and non-sterile surgical and medical equipment. - Oversees the pickup, decontamination, sterilization of reusable surgical instrumentation and flexible endoscopes and probes, and is responsible for the Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) program. All critical and semi-critical reprocessing, wherever it occurs in the healthcare system, is the sole responsibility of the Chief of SPS. - Responsible for having a mastery of considerable knowledge in sterilization practices used to determine the methods and procedures for the sterilization of a wide variety of sophisticated and technical surgical and medical instruments and equipment used throughout NAVAHCS. - Works closely with specialty services and has an in-depth knowledge of various surgical, medical and dental procedures in order to plan work processes in SPS that support these procedures. - Responsible for having a thorough knowledge of fund allocations and appropriate budget principles, procedures and practices as required to plan and execute a budget. - Responsible for having an in-depth knowledge of state of the art management principles and practices and the ability to manage a broad range of work activities of a diverse staff consisting of 9 FTEE of varying skill levels ranging from GS-5 to GS-09. - Performs first and second-level supervisory duties. - Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. - Responsible for ensuring all staff are trained and competent to perform duties and coordinates formal VACO SPS Level One and Level Two Training. Offers assistance with International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) training to all employees. - Maintains a detailed in-service training program to ensure staff receives the minimum continuing education units to maintain certification and or competency. - Uses supervisors to direct, coordinate, and oversee work. Exercise significant responsibility in dealing with service chiefs of other departments and in advising management officials in high rank. -Directs a program with significant resources. Makes decisions of work problems presented by subordinate supervisors. Evaluates subordinate supervisors and serves as the reviewing official on evaluations of nonsupervisory employees rated by subordinate supervisors. -Finds and implements ways to eliminate or reduce significant bottlenecks or barriers to production, promotes team building, and improves business practices. Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) Incumbent will have knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) as required by this position, and 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 RME appropriate to this position. The incumbent will be able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RME appropriate to this position. Incumbent has expert knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, principles and procedures to plan programs and policies to ensure NAVAHCS and SPS are compliant with mandatory regulations. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30AM -4:00PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized