Surgical Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee seeks a Surgical Technician to assist the surgeon and team during complex operative procedures.

You will help plan and execute steps under supervision while maintaining strict aseptic technique and sterile field. Responsibilities include setting up sterile equipment, passing instruments, and supporting a broad range of surgeries.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience includes knowledge of medical instruments, anatomy, physiology and aseptic technique.
• Maintains sterile field and proper handling/rotation of sterile supplies.
• Follows universal precautions and infection control policies.

Responsibilities

• Provides assistance to the surgeon and team during surgical procedures.
• Set up sterile field with required items for each procedure.
• Passes instruments to surgeons without compromising sterile technique.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with the surgical team to ensure supplies are available.
• Maintains concentration during extended procedures and anticipates surgeon needs.

Skills

Sterile technique

Surgical instruments handling

Infection control

Anatomy knowledge

Education

Graduate education related to the work

Tools

Sterilizer equipment

Job description

Summary

This position is organizationally aligned under the Acute Nursing-Outpatient Division - Operating Room - at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center (695) a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility. The primary purpose of this position is to provide assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical teams.

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

• Duties: Provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures
• assist the team members with care of patient - I
• E. - positioning - prepping and obtaining supplies
• prepares procedures and surgical devices during procedures
• Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: endovascular - open heart - thoracic - major vascular - neurosurgery - microsurgery - transplantation - gynecology - urology - ophthalmology - plastic surgery - a full range of general surgery cases - minimally invasive procedures - and orthopedic surgery
• Set up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air powered equipment - fiber optic equipment - laparoscopic equipment - microscopes - lasers - arthroscopy equipment - urologic equipment - recording devices - and other operating room supplies and equipment
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical procedure
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical team to ensure all supplies and equipment are available prior to surgical procedures
• Provides guidance and support to professional staff during surgical procedures
• observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended period of time
• Handles all specimens appropriately
• Understands the proper procedure and safety precautions for disinfecting surgical instruments
• utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens - supplies - and equipment
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations and takes corrective action
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Days with variable start times 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 their duties under normal and emergent conditions
• The evaluation of an individual's ability to perform efficiently and without hazard to self or others will encompass a composite consideration of physical - mental - and emotional ability as related to realistic requirements for the duties and responsibilities to be assumed
• Physical components of the position require lifting of light to heavy objects/patients ranging from under 15 pounds .to 35 pounds as well as light carrying (under 25 pounds) is required
• The employee must be able to walk - stand - and bend for periods up to 7 hours/day
• Pushing up to 30-pound force is required to move patient carts around the work unit
• Visual acuity with or without corrective devices must be sufficient to allow for visualization of suture needle to size 4.8mm
• Incumbent must have ability to distinguish low range sound and/or voice in surgical suite environment with competing background conversations - alarms - and equipment noise
• Occasional kneeling is required for some operating room procedures
• The incumbent - when assigned in the scrub role - 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.