Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/29/2025

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, this part
• Experience and/or Education: (1) Experience
• Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
• or (2) 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 (3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Preferred Experience: Assists in prioritizing processing of instruments and equipment for surgical procedures to facilitate turnover of cases
• Anticipates instrument needs for following day and assures sterile processing completion
• Assist the operating room staff, supporting the O.R
• suite while opening surgical instrument trays, Performs/assists with daily quality testing on equipment in SPS
• Answering phones and daily staff assignment sheet
• Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as a GS - 6 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
• Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II APPENDIX G47
• https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation),gastrointestinal intestinal endoscope reprocessing hub, 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 work requires proper body mechanics when standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages/instrument trays (occasionally weighing as much as50 pounds)
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.