Surgical Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in Tulsa, OK is seeking a Surgical Technician to assist the surgeon and the surgical team during procedures. The role involves preparing sterile fields, handling instruments and supplies, and setting up cases under supervision of the Chief of Surgery.

Qualified applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis and closing 12/17/2026. English proficiency is essential for clear communication with staff and patients in a high-stakes clinical setting.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-6) or equivalent.
• Education may substitute for experience as described; graduate-level coursework must relate to surgical technology.
• Combination of education and experience that meet total requirements for the grade level.

Responsibilities

• Prepare sterile surgical fields for procedures and maintain aseptic technique.
• Handle instruments, supplies, and equipment; ensure readiness of surgical case setup.
• Assist surgeon during cases and coordinate with team under supervision of Surgery Chief.

Skills

English proficiency

Sterile technique

Team collaboration

Education

Graduate education or internship in related field

Job description

The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the surgical team and provides 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 Chief of Surgery and Surgical team.

This is an open continuous announcement. Qualified applicants will be reviewed every two weeks.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/17/2026.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR)

This position has a minimum qualification entry requirement: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that requires application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience

You must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level GS-6 that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics in or related to the work of this position. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Knowledge related to preparation of sterile surgical fields for procedures; handling instruments, supplies, and equipment; setting up surgical cases and assisting surgeon during case.

Education

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (or 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.

Combination

You must have a combination 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. Equivalent combination of successfully completed some 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 such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Preferred Experience

Completion of a Surgical Technologist program preferred but not mandatory.

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/.