Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing) Advanced

Veterans Health Administration•White River Junction, VT

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Medical Supply Technician works in the Sterile Processing service at the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont. This full-time position is 40 hours per week, with a Monday–Friday schedule of either 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. or 11:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. The role is not authorized for telework or virtual work, and compressed or flexible scheduling is not authorized. The technician assembles highly complex instrument sets, including open-heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy, and complex endoscopic sets. The position processes complex endoscopic devices used in gastroenterology, bronchoscopy, urology, and operating-room settings. The technician consults manufacturer guidelines to follow appropriate methods and parameters for cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing reusable medical equipment (RME). The role also involves troubleshooting mechanical failures, adjusting complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, and interpreting equipment alarms. The technician informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures or instructions for use are changed or updated, ensuring that changes are validated to meet applicable guidelines. The position is classified at GS-07, its full performance level. Applicants must meet the stated citizenship, experience or education, and English proficiency requirements. Selected applicants must also complete applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including a physical examination and seasonal influenza vaccination participation. A one- or two-year trial period applies.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
Meet one of the basic experience or education pathways: six months of qualifying experience; one year of post-high-school education including at least six semester hours in relevant healthcare courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
One year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 level.
Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
Ability to assemble specialty operating-room and clinic instrument sets.
In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
Ability to communicate information and thoughts orally and in writing.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and applicable background/security investigation and drug screening.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required.
Must complete the required online onboarding and application requirements, provide acceptable identification, and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

Experience processing complex endoscopic instrumentation.
Experience troubleshooting and analyzing mechanical failures and making necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment.

Responsibilities

Assemble highly complex instrument sets, including open-heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy, and complex endoscopic instrumentation.
Process complex endoscopic instrumentation and devices used in gastroenterology, bronchoscopy, urology, and operating-room settings.
Review manufacturer guidelines and follow correct methods and parameters for cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing reusable medical equipment.
Troubleshoot and analyze mechanical failures and make necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment.
Interpret alarm conditions that occur while operating equipment.
Inform management and healthcare staff of changes or updates to cleaning and processing standard operating procedures or instructions for use, and ensure changes have been validated to meet applicable guidelines.