Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Quality Assurance

Veterans Health Administration • Amarillo, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This is an advanced-level Medical Supply Technician Trainer position in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) in Amarillo, Texas, supporting the SPS management team. The Quality Assurance Technician monitors SPS processes for cleaning and decontamination, sterilization, reprocessing, and distribution of critical, semi-critical, and non-critical reusable medical devices (RMDs). The role includes monitoring bacteriological controls and sterilization methods, and the packaging and assembly of items used in therapeutic and surgical procedures.

The technician maintains quality-assurance systems and documentation, tracks and analyzes RMD records, and uses qualitative analysis tools to identify trends, evaluate operations, and support improvements in workflow and quality. The role also includes troubleshooting SPS-related computer programs, training staff in data entry, collaborating with management when deviations occur, and updating the quality-assurance program when needed. The technician attends RMD rounds at Amarillo VA Health Care System locations, reports findings, develops action plans, follows up on corrective actions, and gathers RMD data for VISN reports.

The position is based in Amarillo, Texas, with a Monday–Friday schedule of 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on rotation shifts. Occasional travel away from the duty station may be required for CBOC coverage or VA-sponsored training. The position is not virtual, and telework is not available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exceptions for non-citizens.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet the basic qualification requirement through six months of qualifying experience, one year of education above high school including at least six semester hours of relevant health-care courses, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• For GS-07, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06, including relevant sterile-processing work such as decontamination, cleaning-method selection, inspection and assembly, sterilization packaging, and daily equipment checks and records.
• Knowledge of fact-finding and investigative techniques for evaluating work processes.
• Ability to analyze data and recommend corrections to quality-control problems.
• Knowledge of sterile-processing operations, infection-control procedures, and Joint Commission requirements for quality-assurance reviews.
• Ability to compile information, evaluate facts, document findings, and prepare reports.
• Thorough knowledge of aseptic principles and techniques for quality control.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and professional staff about proper use of delicate instruments and equipment and to resolve problems.
• Valid driver's license; must be able to obtain and maintain valid Texas and Federal driver licenses for operating a government vehicle.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and meet the described vision, field-of-vision, color-discrimination, and hearing standards for employees required to operate a government vehicle.
• Must complete applicable background/security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment requirements; applicants selected for testing-designated VA employment are subject to urinalysis.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must submit required application documents; education used to qualify must be from an appropriately accredited institution, with foreign-equivalency documentation when applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of hands-on sterile-processing experience.
• Working knowledge of instrument-tracking systems and RMD traceability.
• Working knowledge of reusable medical devices and infection-control practices.
• Level 2 VA certification or sterile-processing certification from an outside entity.
• Understanding of quality management, quality analysis, data capture, and report creation.
• Experience in project development and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Monitor cleaning and decontamination, sterilization, reprocessing, and distribution processes for critical, semi-critical, and non-critical reusable medical devices.
• Monitor bacteriological controls and sterilization principles and methods, including packaging and assembly of items for therapeutic and surgical procedures.
• Perform daily quality checks of required documentation and report discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain methods to evaluate work performance and outcomes under the quality-assurance program.
• Maintain internal and external review systems to support compliance for reusable medical devices used within the medical center.
• Track and analyze required RMD documentation for quality-control purposes.
• Use qualitative analysis tools to prepare trend reports, evaluate operations, and facilitate workflow and quality-process improvements.
• Troubleshoot computer programs related to SPS operations and train staff on data entry associated with equipment cleaning and sterilization, biological processing, and quality-assurance programs.
• Collaborate with SPS management when deviations occur.
• Update the quality-assurance program annually or when manufacturer information or guidelines change.
• Attend RMD rounds at Amarillo VAHCS locations, report findings, develop action plans, and follow up until actions are completed.
• Gather RMD data and prepare reports for VISN.
• Support CBOC coverage during periods when required and attend VA-sponsored educational training or certification courses when selected.
• Obtain and maintain a valid Texas and Federal Driver License to operate a government vehicle.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and families meeting the stated income and eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED