Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Supply Technician works in the Sterile Processing Service at the VA Maine Healthcare System in Augusta, Maine. This is a full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with day and evening hours. Telework and virtual work are not available. The role provides sterilization, preparation, reusable medical equipment (RME) decontamination, and supply distribution support for the medical center.

The technician receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME, disassembles it, selects the appropriate cleaning method based on manufacturers’ instructions, and removes soil and other contaminants. The technician inspects, prepares, assembles, packages, and sterilizes equipment; performs high-level disinfection; prepares operating room case carts; and assembles basic instrument sets and trays. The work includes operating sterilization and cleaning equipment, documenting and validating chemical tests, and organizing reprocessed supplies using first-in, first-out stock rotation.

The role is performed in clinical and sterile-processing environments, including decontamination and clean sterile-supply areas. Work involves exposure to biohazards, hazardous chemicals, body fluids, heat, noise, and other workplace hazards. Standard safety precautions and personal protective equipment are required. The technician uses CENSITRAC and other VA automated systems, as well as office and inventory equipment.

The position’s full performance level is GS-06; applicants may be selected at grades GS-03 through GS-06. The position is in the Excepted Service and is not in a bargaining unit. A one- or two-year trial period may apply. A special salary rate applies; the posting does not provide a salary range.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the applicable experience or education qualification for the grade: basic qualification includes six months of relevant experience, one year of related post-high-school education, or an equivalent combination; higher grades require additional grade-specific experience or education.
• For GS-04, demonstrate knowledge of universal precautions and cross-contamination prevention, basic medical terminology and sterilization/cleaning equipment, and oral and written communication ability.
• For GS-05, demonstrate basic knowledge of surgical instruments, event-related packaging and sterility, and sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• For GS-06, demonstrate knowledge of surgical instruments, universal precautions, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures, and sterility principles; ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and required background/security investigation.
• Submit required application materials; provide transcripts if qualifying wholly or partly through education.
• Meet applicable onboarding and identification requirements, including REAL ID-compliant identification where required.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Recent sterile processing experience.

Responsibilities

• Receive contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment in the decontamination area.
• Disassemble reusable medical equipment and select cleaning methods in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
• Remove soil, blood, tissue, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.
• Inspect, prepare, assemble, package, and determine appropriate sterilization methods for reusable medical equipment.
• Prepare, load, and operate sterilizers and high-level disinfection equipment, including steam and VPRO systems.
• Perform high-level disinfection using Cidex OPA or an equivalent product according to manufacturer guidelines; document and validate chemical testing.
• Prepare operating room case carts daily using the surgery schedule.
• Assemble basic instrument sets and trays for use in the medical center.
• Organize reprocessed items on shelves and rotate stock using the first-in, first-out method.
• Operate equipment involved in decontamination, cleaning, and sterilization processes.
• Inspect packages for indications of proper sterilization.
• Use CENSITRAC and other VA automated systems, along with office and inventory technologies.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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 approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with a child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• 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 federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed