Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST). The Lead MST will function in Sterile Processing Service.

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Duties

The Lead MST duties include, but are not limited to:

• Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations.
• Assures an even workflow and distribution of the workload.
• Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload.
• Assigns work to staff based on experience and training needs.
• Monitors and reports on the status of work.
• Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow.
• Reviews work in progress or spot checks work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions on such things as work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines.
• Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of technical medical equipment, material, and instrumentation.
• Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes, and task completion.
• Instructs employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures, and goals.
• Leads a unit or team of employees performing work at the GS-6 level or below.
• Provides guidance and technician direction for accomplishing the work of the unit or team.
• Ensures all work assignments of employees in the unit or team are carried out.
• Works with the Chief and Assistant Chief/Supervisor, SPS, in the assignment of functions to team members in order to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities.
• Distributes and balance workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow, job specialization and/or capabilities of individual.
• The position is a working Lead Technician, responsible for filling in and for distributing the workload in case of personnel shortages or short notice priorities, to ensure a smooth workflow.
• Ensures timely accomplishment of assigned tasks and ensures that each employee has enough work to keep busy.
• When necessary, revises work schedule to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload.
• Assigns work to employees or assign employees to a position.
• Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform the task.
• Assigns work, including overtime, disagreeable or choice tasks, etc., equitably among employees.
• Explains work requirements, methods, and procedures, as needed, giving special instructions on difficult or different operations, and answering technical questions about the task.
• Monitors status and progress of work and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities.
• Maintains a current knowledge of procedures, policies, and directives and be available to answer any questions of the SPS employees.
• Trains or arranges for the training of team members in the accomplishment of tasks or projects.
• Gives on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices.
• Obtains assistance and/or needed information from the supervisory staff on problems that may arise or backlogs that cannot be disposed of promptly.
• Amends or rejects work not meeting established standards.
• Refers questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards to the supervisory staff.
• Checks the cleaning, reprocessing and distribution of technical medical equipment, materiel and instrumentation as deemed appropriate to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee.
  
  

Work Schedule: Variable Shifts, 7:00am-3:30pm and 11:00pm-7:30am

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 93261-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

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  United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  
  

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.
• English Language Proficiency. LeadMSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j,
  
  

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).

Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
• MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
  
  

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
• Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
• Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
• Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments.
  
  

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS07.



Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, sterile supply, and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The MST may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty, and poorly lighted. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for prolonged periods of time, frequent bending and stretching/reaching, walking, and pushing fully-loaded carts which must be negotiated up inclines and over rises, or positioning them. There are frequent trips throughout the facility picking up soiled items or delivering clean/sterile equipment. The employee usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties. There is frequent requirement for lifting individual instruments, instrument trays, and items weighing up to 50 pounds from just above the floor to above the head. The technician transports trays and equipment on a variety of carts that may weigh several hundred pounds when full. Employee must be acutely aware of safety requirements when moving these carts as they have areas that extend outside the visible area that can cause harm to other staff or equipment. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly, and assembly of instrumentation. Computer work and instrument sorting requires periods of intense visual concentration on a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, shoe covers, and other appropriate personal protective equipment that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The employee often works around biohazard materials such as; body fluids, mucous, excretions, and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors may be encountered while decontaminating and disinfecting instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts, and operation of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization equipment.

Education


IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

"VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."

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VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System

10701 East Boulevard

Cleveland, OH 44106

US