Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is seeking an Assistant Chief to assist the Chief in overseeing all operational and administrative activities, as well as quality management initiatives within SPS.

The role emphasizes training, competency assessment, SOP development and enforcement, and acting as a liaison between SPS and other departments to ensure compliant and efficient sterile processing operations.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience that demonstrates ability to perform the work or understanding of the work (or equivalent).
• 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, OR and surgical technician courses or other related courses.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying for entry level positions.
• May qualify under Grandfathering Provision for current VHA MSTs in this occupation.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Chief, SPS in oversight of all operational and administrative activities of SPS.
• Oversee quality management system activities within SPS, including training and competency assessment.
• Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and serve as liaison between SPS and other departments.
• Assist in supervision and evaluation of staff, resource management, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Skills

Sterile processing experience

Supervisory skills

Communication skills

Education

Health-related coursework (sterile processing, nursing assistant, operating room tech)

Job description

The Assistant Chief position is located at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS). The Assistant Chief is responsible for assisting the Chief, SPS in oversight of all operational and administrative activities of the service, quality management system activities within SPS, to include training, competency assessment, development and enforcement of standard operating procedures and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
• 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.

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).

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. (2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS-09

• Specialized Experience
  • 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. Overseeing attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informing higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommending promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holding corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolving informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Providing technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • 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.

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.

Preferred Experience:

• Five or more years of Sterile Processing Service.
• Availability to work any day Sunday - Saturday & any 8-hour shift.

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-9.

Physical Requirements:

This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) 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 employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of 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.