Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Quality Assurance

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Charleston VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) – Quality Assurance. This role oversees activities across Decontamination, Processing, Instrument Preparation, GI Lab, OR Core Area, and Distribution to ensure high‑quality support for patient care.

Qualifications include US citizenship, English proficiency, six months of relevant experience, and one year of healthcare‑related education.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience that demonstrates ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work.
• One year above high school that included at least six 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.

Responsibilities

• Oversees SPS functions across Decontamination, Processing, Instrument Preparation, GI Lab, OR Core, and Distribution.
• Ensures procedures are followed and that items are safe for use, delivered on time to the proper location, and in the right condition for VA patient care.
• Reviews completed work to assure that supervisor‑SPS instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines have been met to assess quality and quantity of work.
• Prepares various quality assurance reports for higher‑level supervisors.
• Responsible for quality management of reprocessing activities, training, competency assessment, and enhancing patient flow through operating rooms and procedural areas, and assists in succession planning.
• Plans, develops, directs and maintains a quality control program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological testing, product assessment, and related means, providing QA reports upon need.
• Audits all locations where critical and semi‑critical RMD is utilized, reprocessed, and stored to include documentation to assure compliance with SPS/RMD directives, handbooks, and industry standards such as AAMI and IRO.

Skills

Sterile processing

Infection control

Data analysis

Report writing

Education

One year above high school with healthcare courses

Job description

Summary

The Charleston VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) – Quality Assurance! In this role the incumbent oversees activities across all areas of the SPS Section – including Decontamination, Processing, Instrument Preparation, GI Lab, Operating Room Core Area, and Distribution – to ensure consistent high‑quality support for patient care.

Qualifications

• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Citizenship: 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 ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work.
  • Education – One year above high school that included at least six 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.
  • Grandfathering Provision – All MSTs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements.
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it – the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS‑622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation.
• MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements.
• GS‑07 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) – Quality Assurance – (a) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of fact‑finding and investigative techniques; ability to analyze data and make recommendations; knowledge of sterile processing operations, infection control procedures, and Joint Commission requirements; ability to compile information, evaluate facts, document findings, and prepare reports; thorough knowledge of aseptic principles and techniques; effective communication with technical and professional staff.
• Preferred Experience – Three (3) years sterile processing or procedural experience and/or certification in sterile processing quality assurance.
• Physical Requirements: See Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total rewards and major duties may include – but are not limited to – the functions and scopes of practice of a fully qualified SPS professional.
• The incumbent must possess a complete conceptual and practical working knowledge of all SPS functions.
• Serves as a direct liaison to all end‑users of services in the facility where reusable medical device use, storage, and reprocessing take place.
• Ensures proper procedures are followed and that items are safe for use, delivered on time to the proper location, and in the right condition for VA patient care.
• Reviews completed work to assure that supervisor‑SPS instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines have been met to assess quality and quantity of work.
• Prepares various quality assurance reports for higher‑level supervisors.
• Responsible for quality management of reprocessing activities, training, competency assessment, and enhancing patient flow through operating rooms and procedural areas, and assists in succession planning.
• Plans, develops, directs and maintains a quality control program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological testing, product assessment, and related means, providing QA reports upon need.
• Ensures availability and control of many recurring reusable medical/surgical supplies and equipment with challenging supply and demand patterns.
• Audits all locations where critical and semi‑critical RMD is utilized, reprocessed, and stored to include documentation to assure compliance with SPS/RMD directives, handbooks, and industry standards such as AAMI and IRO.
• Co‑ordinates with project team members on cost, schedule, quality, and risk mitigation strategies for surgical instrument programs.
• Maintains competency to perform a full range of duties as a Sterile Processing technician.
• Mentors new employees and assists with the New Employee Education Program.
• Actively serves in supervisory or coordinator roles in the absence of the SPS Lead MST.
• Work Schedule: 5:00 pm – 1:30 am Monday–Friday (with on‑call requirements).
• Recruitment Incentive: Sign‑on bonus – not authorized.
• Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized.
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases; higher step rate may be determined for higher or unique qualifications.
• Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time per year (including sick leave, federal holidays).
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Child Care Subsidy: Eligibility criteria and subsidy details.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care.
• Telework: Not available.
• Virtual: Not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 58681F.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.