Lead Medical Supply Tech (sterile Processing)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; United States; On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, with duty stations in Gainesville, FL and Tallahassee, FL.

The role requires supervising sterile processing workflows, coordinating decontamination, and ensuring compliance with sterility standards. Candidates should have healthcare-related education or experience as outlined in the basic requirements, including English proficiency

Qualifications

• Instruct staff on correct procedures and protocols.
• Communicate effectively to ensure compliance with directives.
• Demonstrate leadership and manage work priorities.
• Understand sterility principles for decontamination and processing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the decontamination and re-processing workflow for RME.
• Oversee sterilization methods and equipment suitability.
• Instruct staff and monitor adherence to procedures and safety rules.

Skills

Staff instruction

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Sterility knowledge

Leadership

Education

Healthcare courses

Job description

This position is located within the Sterile Processing Service in the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. Sterile Processing covers five locations including, Gainesville Medical Center, Lake City Medical Center, Jacksonville Outpatient Center (JOPC), Tallahassee Health Care Center (THCC), and the Villages Outpatient Center (TVOPC). The duty station for this position is in Gainesville, FL and Tallahassee, FL.

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

• 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.)


• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j,


• 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. 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

• In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.


• Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - GS-7 Experience.


• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-6) level.


• (Examples of experience include: 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 re-processors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.)

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.

Reference. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

This position may require shift work and/or rotation of tour assignments. Routinely requires heavy lifting (>45 lbs.), heavy carrying (>45 lbs.), straight pulling and pushing, walking, standing, kneeling, and/or repeated bending up to 8 hrs., both legs required, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing aid permitted, and ability to operate transportation equipment. 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 empl