Surgical Technician

Veterans Health Administration; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration in Tulsa, OK is seeking a Surgical Technician (ST) to assist the surgeon and team during complex procedures under supervision. The role includes preparing and maintaining the sterile field, handling instruments, and supporting the scrub person throughout operations.

Applicants must meet the experience and education requirements, including one year of specialized experience at GS-6 or equivalent, and may substitute education.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-6 or equivalent in related surgical duties.
• Knowledge of surgical instruments, anatomy, and aseptic technique.

Responsibilities

• Assist surgeon and team during procedures.
• Prepare, organize, and maintain sterile field and instrument set-ups.
• Serve as primary scrub person for instruments and supplies.
• Anticipate needs of the surgeon during procedures.
• Handle specimens and assist with instrument decontamination.

Skills

Assist in surgery

Aseptic technique

Instrument handling

Education

Graduate education in anatomy/physiology or surgical technology

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, 09/30/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

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. AND, 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.

• providing assistance to a surgical team during surgical procedures;
• utilizing knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery;
• functioning as primary scrub person handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures;
• preparing, organizing, and maintaining highly complex sterile surgical set-up;
• observing and responding to each state of a surgical procedure to anticipate the needs of the surgeon;
• handling specimens appropriately, cleaning and decontaminating instruments before and after procedures.

OR, 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.

OR, 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/.