The Chief Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is supervisor of the Service and is considered to be the medical center expert with respect to sterile processing. The most senior leader of the SPS management team. The Chief defines priorities and distributes, with SPS supervisors, workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. 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. To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Experience and/or Education - Experience - Six months of experience that demonstrates the 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. Grandfather Provision. A Medical Supply Technician (MST) employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (May 28, 2014) 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 may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees 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. Employees 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 re-entry to the occupation. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. Knowledge of sterility principles in regard to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-10 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Having oversight of all supervision, administrative management and direction of a Sterile Processing Service; overseeing all decontamination, sterilization and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME; developing and maintaining a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations; contributing to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation and fiscal management; making selections, assigning personnel and providing direction to subordinate staff; managing the training, documenting and evaluating of staff. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to manage SPS operations. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. 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. 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. Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions. Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs. Preferred Experience: SPS Certification (VA and/or IAHCSMM International Association of Healthcare Central Services Materiel Management) or will obtain certification within six (6) months. Previous experience developing standard operating procedures. Demonstrated ability in previous assignments to make critical decisions in stressful environments. Demonstrated dependability for duty and flexibility in work assignments/hours in previous assignments. Note: You must provide detailed information of your experience performed. Information such as "I was a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)" is insufficient to determine your qualifications. Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS10. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS10. Physical Requirements: In addition to management responsibilities performed in an administrative office, work can be performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation & packaging, clean/sterile supply, and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty, and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from reprocessing equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday. Additionally, frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulation, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between the controlled access areas which include contaminated and sterile/clean environments. The employee is required to wear facility issued scrubs in conjunction with applicable PPE as required by the specific area which includes but is not limited to hair & shoe covers, gowns, gloves, face shields, and safety glasses that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items and the hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses. The employee can be exposed to hazardous chemicals and vapors. The employee can be exposed to slips, trips, and falls related to wet environments. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical devices. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts, and operation of reprocessing equipment. ["The Chief SPS has the overall responsibility for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of SPS. The Chief ensures SPS functions comply with all regulatory mandates. The Chief forecasts, plans, develops, and manages SPS. The Chief manages SPS personnel and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments within the VA Health Care System. The Chief maintains effective interdepartmental relationships, coordinates, resolves problems, and ensures cooperation with other programs and services. The Chief manages the overall SPS budget including determining resource needs, allocating resources, and ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of SPS operations. The Chief formulates objectives, develops priorities, and implements plans that support organizational goals. The Chief ensures operations comply with all safety, regulatory, and accrediting requirements. The Chief oversees orientation, and training of staff. Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Supply Aide and Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Supply-Aide-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: DTOD, 24/7 accountability, may be required to work outside of normal tour of duty depending on work load and assignment Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Critical Skill Incentive: Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30502-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized"]

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