Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration • Cheyenne, WY

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Cheyenne VA Health Care System is recruiting a Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (MST) for its Sterile Processing Service (SPS) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The position is the first-line supervisor for MSTs supporting the Reusable Medical Device (RMD) program and works in support of the Chief and Assistant Chief of SPS. The supervisor helps accomplish the organization’s mission, vision, and goals and manages SPS as a service line using a planned, implemented, and evaluated Quality Management System program.

The incumbent plans, organizes, directs, trains, and coordinates activities for a comprehensive RMD program. The role requires in-depth knowledge of reprocessing processes, equipment, devices, methodologies, and standards. Work is often time-sensitive and complex, with a direct impact on healthcare delivery. The supervisor supports the formulation and execution of administrative policies and procedures and assists the Chief with daily oversight decisions.

The supervisor oversees SPS functions at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center and Northern Colorado Outpatient Clinic, including decontamination, preparation, assembly, packaging, high- and low-temperature sterilization, disinfection, and endoscope reprocessing. The position oversees the receipt, processing, transportation, storage, and utilization of critical and semi-critical RMD, and maintains accurate inventory and information in the instrument tracking and management system to support patient care.

The incumbent plans and schedules priorities based on staffing, devices, equipment, resources, and workload; develops quality measures; tracks and reports sterile-processing trends; and reviews processes, equipment, and resources for compliance with new requirements, process improvements, and best practices. The supervisor also evaluates service operations and recommends improvements to the Chief of SPS, uses safety precautions, addresses employee complaints and performance, initiates disciplinary measures when appropriate, carries out Equal Employment Opportunity policies and activities, and facilitates solutions to problems.

Work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with on-call duties. Compressed or flexible scheduling may be available by negotiation after the orientation period. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Recruitment and relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Six months of qualifying experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or understanding of the work; or one year of post-high-school education including at least six semester hours in health-care-related courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• For GS-08: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, interact, and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of reusable medical equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties, including assigning, planning, and evaluating work; recommending awards; approving leave; identifying training needs; and resolving staff issues.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, drug screening when applicable, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as specified by the agency.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education must be evaluated as specified in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a hospital sterile processing department.
• Experience as a direct supervisor.
• Nationally recognized sterile processing certification.

Responsibilities

• Plan and analyze SPS operations, including methods, procedures, workflow, and personnel utilization; recommend improvements to the Chief of SPS.
• Establish and maintain accurate RMD inventories and ensure reprocessing equipment and devices are available for patient care.
• Plan, organize, direct, train, and coordinate activities of the comprehensive RMD program.
• Support the formulation and execution of SPS administrative policies and procedures and assist the Chief with daily oversight decisions.
• Manage SPS as a service line through a planned, implemented, and evaluated Quality Management System program.
• Oversee SPS reprocessing areas and functions at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center and Northern Colorado Outpatient Clinic, including decontamination, preparation, assembly, packaging, sterilization, disinfection, and endoscope reprocessing.
• Plan and schedule work priorities based on staffing, RMD, equipment, resources, and workload across the healthcare system.
• Develop quality measures and track and report sterile-processing trends.
• Review processes, equipment, and resources to keep the facility aligned with new requirements, process improvements, and best practices.
• Oversee receipt, processing, transportation, storage, and utilization of critical and semi-critical RMD.
• Maintain data integrity and manage instrument tracking and management system information to meet clinical patient-care needs.
• Use safety precautions while performing duties.
• Assign, plan, direct, and evaluate staff work; address attendance and leave matters, training needs, and staff issues; recommend awards and personnel actions as appropriate.
• Counsel, guide, and evaluate employee performance; resolve minor complaints and initiate or refer disciplinary matters as appropriate.
• Carry out Equal Employment Opportunity policies and program activities and identify problems and facilitate solutions.

Benefits

• 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.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• 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.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to income, child eligibility, and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.

What This Job Offers

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