Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Mather (CA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in California seeks a Supervisory Medical Supply Technician to oversee day-to-day Sterile Processing Service operations. You will communicate with customers and ensure the accurate flow of reusable medical equipment, while resolving informal complaints and guiding staff performance.

The role requires KSAs in staff supervision and MST practices, with a focus on maintaining efficiency, safety, and compliance in a hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
• Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed.
• Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day operations in Sterile Processing Service.
• Communicate daily with customers to ensure uninterrupted and accurate flow of reusable medical equipment.
• Develop work improvement plans and recommend personnel actions as needed.
• Resolve informal complaints and grievances.

Skills

KSAs: manage & interact

Direct staff supervision

Decontamination & sterilization

Supervisory duties execution

Job description

The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician is responsible for direct supervision of day-to-day operations in Sterile Processing Service, regardless of tour of duty. Communicates daily with customers in order to ensure open communication that results in uninterrupted and consistently accurate flow of necessary reusable medical equipment. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary.

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.

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:

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7).

Experience.

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

(a) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. 2. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed. 3. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME. 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. (b). Creditable Experience 1. 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 an MST.

1. 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) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

1. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, an MST employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2 time basis would receive 1 full-time workweek for 2 weeks of service.

References:

VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G47

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements:

This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation), gastrointestinal intestinal endoscope reprocessing hub, 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 work requires proper body mechanics when standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages/instrument trays (occasionally weighing as much as 25 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.