Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Fresno, CA, United States
Summary
The Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST) works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team. The MST distributes, prioritizes and monitors all workloads distributed to employees and ensures that work completed is in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT until July 15, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred weekly or as vacancies become available.
Qualifications
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
Experience and/or Education
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 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: (1) 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
Please note that this position is above the full performance level
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
English Language Proficiency
MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy
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
on-paid employment as a 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, and complexity
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 Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6)
Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area, disassembling the RME and determining the correct cleaning method, such as ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions
Inspecting, assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope re-processors
Performing and documenting daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
Demonstrated KSAs: instruct staff on correct procedures, communicate to ensure compliance with directives, manage priorities, and lead individuals
Assignment: The Lead MST works in support of the SPS management team, distributes and prioritizes workload, revises schedules, and ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed
Preferred Experience: Sterile Processing experience at least 3 years; experience with endoscope reprocessing for 2 years minimum; experience applying quality assurance skills
Ability to assess for the application of best practice; attention to detail, time management, problem-solving, testing, and survey experience
Must have a good reputation with an unwavering commitment to meticulous production; demonstrates self-confidence
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
Former VA Handbook reference: PART II APPENDIX G47; Effective date: May 28, 2014
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7
Physical Requirements: As required by VA Directive and Handbook 5019
This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (prep) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus
May be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted
The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds)
The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation
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, personal protective equipment and shoe covers 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
Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment
The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment
Duties
The Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST) works with the Chief and Assistant Chief for SPS, in the assignment of functions to team members to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities
The MST leads a unit or team of employees performing work at the GS-6 levels or below and provides guidance and technician direction for accomplishing the work of the unit or team
Duties include but are not limited to the following: Distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees
Ensures timely accomplishment of assigned tasks
Revises work schedule to meet changes in the workload
Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with experience and training
Explains work requirements, methods and procedures on difficult or different operations and answers technical questions
Monitors status and progress of work and makes adjustments in accordance with established priorities
Provides on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices
Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to ensure supervisor's instructions on priorities, methods, deadlines and quality assurance have been met
Obtains assistance from the supervisory staff on problems that may arise
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 to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee
Ensures that items are safe to use, delivered on time at the proper place, and in the correct condition to be properly used for VA patient care
Monitors working conditions such as seating, ventilation, lighting or safety
Approves emergency leave for a few hours or for emergencies in the absence of supervisory staff
Informs employees about the policies, procedures and goals of the service
Reports to the supervisor on performance, progress and training needs of employees, and on behavior problems
Informs supervisor of employees' participation, suggestions and reactions
Resolves simple informal complaints of employees and refers others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to the supervisor or an appropriate management official
Conducts and records competencies on individuals for the proper reprocessing of RME, following established checklists devised by supervisory staff and approved by Infection Control
Performs quality assurance inspections of instruments and equipment in the Sterile Preparation area of SPS prior to items being wrapped and sterilized
Conducts inspection of the Decontamination area of SPS to verify that proper techniques and processes are being followed by staff and that all equipment is working properly
Inspects to verify that all instrumentation is disassembled to the simplest form
Inspects all instrumentation for cleanliness and to assure that it is in good working order, checking lock boxes, alignment, sharpness and general operation
Independently prepares the full range of trays and sets necessary to be used in wards, clinic areas and dental clinic
Effectively processes and sterilizes a wide variety of instrumentation, including implant devices, in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations, and ensures that they are held for the required time post sterilization per regulations
Completes training coursework and VA SPS certification as required for a Sterile Processing Technician position in the VA
Maintains certification by completing approved continuing education units (CEU) and annual in-service hours
Maintains current knowledge of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RME
Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday through Friday - 1500-2330; Telework: Not Available; Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 04067A
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST) works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team. The MST distributes, prioritizes and monitors all workloads distributed to employees and ensures that work completed is in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT until July 15, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred weekly or as vacancies become available.
Qualifications
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
Experience and/or Education
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 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: (1) 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
Please note that this position is above the full performance level
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
English Language Proficiency
MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy
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
on-paid employment as a 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, and complexity
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 Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6)
Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area, disassembling the RME and determining the correct cleaning method, such as ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions
Inspecting, assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope re-processors
Performing and documenting daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
Demonstrated KSAs: instruct staff on correct procedures, communicate to ensure compliance with directives, manage priorities, and lead individuals
Assignment: The Lead MST works in support of the SPS management team, distributes and prioritizes workload, revises schedules, and ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed
Preferred Experience: Sterile Processing experience at least 3 years; experience with endoscope reprocessing for 2 years minimum; experience applying quality assurance skills
Ability to assess for the application of best practice; attention to detail, time management, problem-solving, testing, and survey experience
Must have a good reputation with an unwavering commitment to meticulous production; demonstrates self-confidence
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
Former VA Handbook reference: PART II APPENDIX G47; Effective date: May 28, 2014
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7
Physical Requirements: As required by VA Directive and Handbook 5019
This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (prep) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus
May be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted
The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds)
The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation
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, personal protective equipment and shoe covers 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
Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment
The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment
Duties
The Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST) works with the Chief and Assistant Chief for SPS, in the assignment of functions to team members to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities
The MST leads a unit or team of employees performing work at the GS-6 levels or below and provides guidance and technician direction for accomplishing the work of the unit or team
Duties include but are not limited to the following: Distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees
Ensures timely accomplishment of assigned tasks
Revises work schedule to meet changes in the workload
Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with experience and training
Explains work requirements, methods and procedures on difficult or different operations and answers technical questions
Monitors status and progress of work and makes adjustments in accordance with established priorities
Provides on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices
Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to ensure supervisor's instructions on priorities, methods, deadlines and quality assurance have been met
Obtains assistance from the supervisory staff on problems that may arise
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 to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee
Ensures that items are safe to use, delivered on time at the proper place, and in the correct condition to be properly used for VA patient care
Monitors working conditions such as seating, ventilation, lighting or safety
Approves emergency leave for a few hours or for emergencies in the absence of supervisory staff
Informs employees about the policies, procedures and goals of the service
Reports to the supervisor on performance, progress and training needs of employees, and on behavior problems
Informs supervisor of employees' participation, suggestions and reactions
Resolves simple informal complaints of employees and refers others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to the supervisor or an appropriate management official
Conducts and records competencies on individuals for the proper reprocessing of RME, following established checklists devised by supervisory staff and approved by Infection Control
Performs quality assurance inspections of instruments and equipment in the Sterile Preparation area of SPS prior to items being wrapped and sterilized
Conducts inspection of the Decontamination area of SPS to verify that proper techniques and processes are being followed by staff and that all equipment is working properly
Inspects to verify that all instrumentation is disassembled to the simplest form
Inspects all instrumentation for cleanliness and to assure that it is in good working order, checking lock boxes, alignment, sharpness and general operation
Independently prepares the full range of trays and sets necessary to be used in wards, clinic areas and dental clinic
Effectively processes and sterilizes a wide variety of instrumentation, including implant devices, in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations, and ensures that they are held for the required time post sterilization per regulations
Completes training coursework and VA SPS certification as required for a Sterile Processing Technician position in the VA
Maintains certification by completing approved continuing education units (CEU) and annual in-service hours
Maintains current knowledge of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RME
Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday through Friday - 1500-2330; Telework: Not Available; Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 04067A
#J-18808-Ljbffr