Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration • West Roxbury, MA

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) works in the Sterile Processing Service at VA Boston Healthcare System’s West Roxbury, Massachusetts location. This is a full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week, normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with rotation to evening and weekend hours as departmental needs require. An on-call rotation is required. The position is not eligible for telework or a compressed schedule and is not virtual. Travel to other VA campuses and community-based outpatient clinics may be required.

The role supervises day-to-day Sterile Processing Service operations and provides technical and administrative oversight of medical supply technicians. The incumbent coordinates with clinical customers to maintain an uninterrupted and accurate supply of reusable medical device (RMD) instruments and supplies, oversees the electronic instrument tracking system (CensiTrac), and supports employee training, performance, and personnel matters. The work supports clinical and patient-care areas throughout the medical and surgical hospital, including a specialty Spinal Cord Care Unit.

Work takes place in decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply, and other areas across the medical facility. Conditions may include hot, cold, drafty, or poorly lit areas; noise; unpleasant odors; exposure to body fluids and tissue; and alternating between contaminated and controlled clean environments. The employee wears special clothing and personal protective equipment and may handle hot items and sterilizer carts. The work involves standing and walking throughout the workday, frequent bending and lifting, and dexterity and visual acuity for handling instruments.

The position is in the Excepted Service and is covered by a special salary rate. Compensation is described as competitive, with regular salary increases; a specific salary range is not provided. Benefits described include paid leave and holidays, parental leave, a possible child-care subsidy for eligible employees, a federal pension and 401(k), and federal health, vision, dental, life, and long-term-care insurance.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated limited exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• At least six months of qualifying experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or understanding of the work; or one year of education above high school including at least six semester hours in relevant health-care courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education for entry-level qualification.
• For the GS-08 grade, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07), including experience assembling highly complex instrument sets; processing complex endoscopic instrumentation; applying manufacturer instructions for cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization; troubleshooting and adjusting complex processing equipment; interpreting alarms; and communicating changes to standard operating procedures or instructions for use.
• Ability to manage and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds.
• Ability to direct staff and manage assigned tasks.
• Ability to oversee decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of reusable medical equipment.
• Ability to perform supervisory duties, including assigning, planning, and evaluating work; recommending awards; approving leave; identifying training needs; and resolving staff issues.
• Must meet VA pre-employment screening and onboarding conditions, including background/security investigation, required identification, physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Must be able to meet the physical demands and work conditions described for sterile processing, including prolonged standing and walking, frequent bending and lifting, and use of personal protective equipment.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise day-to-day Sterile Processing Service operations and provide technical supervision to accomplish the unit’s work.
• Communicate with customers to maintain an uninterrupted and accurate flow of reusable medical device supplies for procedures.
• Identify employee development and training needs and arrange appropriate training.
• Advise the Assistant Chief and Chief of SPS of organizational problems and provide input on potential progressive disciplinary actions.
• Collaborate with SPS leadership and direct the overall activities of the electronic instrument tracking system (CensiTrac).
• Generate and review tracking-system reports to ensure compliance with SPS policies and procedures.
• Ensure appropriate instrument-marking techniques are used to identify and track instrumentation.
• Enter data for new instrument sets, equipment, and procedural trays using consistent formats and naming conventions.
• Initiate SPS tracking reports and data analysis.
• Assist in developing and implementing electronic competency assessments for orientation, training, and system changes.
• Review tracking-system performance problems and errors, and suggest ways to prevent recurrence.
• Work with tracking-system vendors to troubleshoot documentation and system-performance issues.
• Oversee attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules.
• Inform higher-level management of anticipated vacancies or workload increases.
• Recommend promotions, reassignments, recognition, retention or release of probationary employees, and other personnel changes.
• Conduct corrective interviews, refer disciplinary matters to higher management, resolve informal employee complaints, and deal with union representatives on personnel matters.
• Oversee and supervise decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of reusable medical equipment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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 approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Potential child-care subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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