LEAD MEDICAL SUPPLY TECH (Sterile Processing)

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:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g.)

English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English 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.

Certification. None.

Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in Veterans Health Administration (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.

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 REQUIREMENTS

Creditable Experience

Knowledge of Current MST Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an MST.

Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MST employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

Grade Determinations

GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-6) level. GS-6 level specialized experience includes but are not limited to the following: 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 regards to instrumentation; Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

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

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

***Preferred Experience***

• Provides oversight and supervision for a group of MSTs, up to the GS-7 level. Administrative responsibility for planning and directing daily work, and ensures an even workflow and distribution of the workload.
• Oversight of attendance and leave to include approval of sick leave and annual leave, and revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload.
• Ensures SOPs, Policies, and SPS mandates are followed. Conducts performance appraisals; recommends promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees, or other changes of assigned personnel.
• 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.
• Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit.
• Conducts corrective counseling with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management.
• Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Instructs employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures and, goals. Provides guidance and training to staff members with less experience.

Physical Requirements: This position may require shift work and or rotation of tour assignments. Routinely requires heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over), heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over), straight pulling and pushing (up to 8 hrs.), walking (8 hrs.), standing (8 hrs.), kneeling (8 hrs.), repeated bending (8 hrs.), both legs required, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing aid permitted, and ability to operate transportation equipment.