Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification / licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.

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).

Grade Determinations : GS-10 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs : 1.

Ability to implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to manage SPS operations. 2. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations.

3. Ability to integrate SPS managerial duties, which includes strategic planning of facility organizational goals and integration of SPS vision and values within the organizational mission.

4. 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.

5. Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions. 6. Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs.

Assignment. The Chief has the overall responsibility for the supervision, administrative management and direction of the SPS.

Ensures SPS functions are in compliance with all regulatory mandates. Forecasts, plans, develops and manages the SPS program.

Manages SPS personnel and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments. Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships, coordinates and resolves problems, and ensures cooperation with other programs and services.

Manages the overall SPS budget including determining resource needs, allocating resources, and ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness of SPS operations.

Formulates objectives, develops priorities and implements plans that support organizational goals. Ensures operations are in compliance with all safety, regulatory and accrediting requirements.

Oversees orientation and training of staff. Preferred Experience : Previous experience in a SPS leadership role or surgical technician experience.

Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) certification, Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) certification, knowledge of AAMI standards.

References : VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements : The work requires constant physical effort in the receipt, reprocessing, storage and issue of RME, folding of linen items, assembling trays, pans, and case carts, inserting and retrieving loaded sterilized carts from the autoclaves.

Hand and eye coordination is required in the disassembly and reassembling of equipment. The worker is exposed to long periods of standing, bending and walking while reprocessing reusable medical equipment.

Frequent requirement for the lifting of RME, trays and cartons from storage shelves to carts. Incumbent regularly uses case carts in the delivery of supplies and instruments to the clinical areas within the Medical Center.

Material weighs up to 50 pounds.