Surgical Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Milwaukee is seeking a Surgical Technician (GS-7) to prepare, organize, and handle instruments and supplies for surgeries. You will collaborate with the surgical team to anticipate needs and maintain sterile technique throughout procedures.

The role requires knowledge of anatomy, aseptic technique, and instrument handling; on-call duties and weekend/holiday coverage apply. Orientation starts weekdays, 0700–1530, with tours based on department needs.

Qualifications

• Graduate level education with courses in anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, or aseptic technique.
• Education must be from an accredited college or university with transcripts submitted.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, organize, assemble, and handle instruments and supplies during surgeries.
• Collaborate with the surgical team preoperatively and intraoperatively to anticipate needs.
• Maintain sterile technique and assist with asepsis and infection control.
• Assist in patient positioning, prepping, draping, and transport to the OR.
• Perform counts for soft goods, sharps, and instruments with the circulating RN.
• Train residents, students and new staff in surgical procedures.
• Maintain equipment and work areas; arrange stock of supplies for procedures.

Skills

Sterile technique

Anatomy knowledge

Infection control

Surgical instrument handling

Education

Graduate education in related field

Accredited surgical technology program

Tools

Sterilizers

Operative room equipment

Job description

Summary

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families - caregivers - and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/23/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience GS-07-Grade Level: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. Specialized experience includes utilizing knowledge of medical instruments - human anatomy - physiology - and aseptic technique to prepare and protect sterile field during surgery; exercising sterile technique to include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization - packaging - storage - and shelf life; handling medical instruments - supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures; performing proper cleaning techniques - as well as the proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies; handling contaminated items - quality control - and personal hygiene - using knowledge of universal precautions and implementing infection control policies and procedures. OR - Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR - Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. To calculate - first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting - you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-07. For example - an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for preparing - organizing - assembling and handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures performed at this facility utilizing the preference card and posting slip
• Preoperatively - intraoperatively collaborates with surgical team and anticipates needs of the surgeon - ie suctioning - holding retractors - preparing skin grafts - etc
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows facility/ department policies and procedures when handling specimens and ensures the circulating nurse receives correct information for labeling purposes
• Assists the surgical team with care of the patient - i.e. - positioning - prepping - draping - obtaining supplies - applying dressings - and transportation to and from the OR
• Shares responsibility with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN) to perform soft goods - sharps - and instrument counts to verify accuracy
• Responsible for knowledge of department policy for prevention of retained surgical items
• Assists in training residents - medical students - nursing students - surgical technology students - and new Operating Room (OR) staff in surgical procedures
• Performs variety of assignments within the department as assigned to include
• scrub duties - sterile core duties - Turn Over Team (TOT) - clerical - scheduling - surgical assisting
• Maintains Equipment and Work Areas Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions
• Assesses equipment needs and assists logistics personnel to provide adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Provides guidance and support to other Surgical Technicians - new OR staff - nursing and medical students - resident and attending physicians
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g. - frayed cords - water on floor) - and takes corrective action
• Protects self and others from injury related to patient positioning and movement as outlined in the facility
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: OR hours are 0700-1930
• All new hires will start on an orientation tour of Monday - Friday 0700-1530
• Once Orientation is complete - tour will be determined based on department needs
• Required to be ON CALL which includes weekends and holidays
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD09033A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The physical and mental status of the Surgical Technician should enable them to perform all of their duties under normal and emergent conditions
• Incumbent must have ability to distinguish low range sound and or voice in surgical environment with competing background conversations - alarms - and equipment noise
• The incumbent must be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising elements of sterile technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon
• There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing - walking - bending - lifting - pushing - reaching and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon.