Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (SPS)

Veterans Health Administration • Tampa, FL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (MST) in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) supports the Chief and Assistant Chief of SPS and serves as a first-line supervisor for MSTs supporting the Reusable Medical Device (RMD) program. The incumbent plans, organizes, directs, trains, and coordinates RMD program activities and helps accomplish the organization’s mission, vision, and goals. This specialized work requires in-depth knowledge of reprocessing processes, equipment, RMD, methodology, and standards; work is often time-sensitive and complex, with a direct impact on healthcare delivery.

The supervisor supports the development and execution of SPS administrative policies and procedures and manages SPS as a service line using a planned, implemented, and evaluated Quality Management System (QMS) Program. The position oversees SPS operations at James A. Haley VA Hospital and its community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), including decontamination, preparation, assembly, packaging, sterilization, disinfection, and endoscope reprocessing. The incumbent plans and schedules priorities based on staffing, RMD, equipment, resources, and workload; develops quality measures; tracks and reports sterile-processing trends; and reviews processes, equipment, and resources for new requirements, improvements, and best practices.

The role oversees receipt, processing, transportation, storage, and utilization of critical and semi-critical RMD; maintains inventory and instrument-tracking data integrity; and ensures devices are available for patient care. The supervisor also counsels, guides, and evaluates employees; resolves minor employee complaints; may initiate disciplinary measures; and carries out Equal Employment Opportunity policies and program activities. Other duties may be assigned.

The schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, 3:30 p.m. to midnight, with on-call responsibilities and a day-shift schedule of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. also listed. An eight-week orientation is provided. Compressed/flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• United States citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Six months of 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 health care-related courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-08: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07).
• Ability to manage, interact, and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.
• Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to completion.
• 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.
• A transcript must be submitted when education is used to qualify. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Nice To Haves

• 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 decontamination.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to convey information to others.
• Knowledge of sterility principles to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
• Ability to analyze data and recommend corrections to quality-control problems.
• Knowledge of fact-finding and investigative techniques to evaluate work processes.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain accurate RMD inventory and reprocessing equipment, and ensure RMD availability for patient care.
• Plan, organize, direct, train, and coordinate activities associated with the RMD program.
• Support the formulation and execution of SPS administrative policies and procedures.
• Manage SPS as a service line using a planned, implemented, and evaluated Quality Management System Program.
• Assist the Chief with daily oversight decisions.
• Oversee SPS reprocessing areas and functions at the VA hospital and CBOCs, including decontamination, preparation, assembly, packaging, sterilization, disinfection, and endoscope reprocessing.
• Plan and schedule priorities based on staffing, RMD, equipment, resources, and workload.
• Develop quality measures and track and report sterile-processing trends.
• Review processes, equipment, and resources for new requirements, process improvements, and best practices.
• Oversee receipt, processing, transportation, storage, and utilization of critical and semi-critical RMD.
• Use safety precautions while performing duties.
• Maintain data integrity and manage information in the instrument tracking/management system to meet patient-care needs.
• Counsel, guide, and evaluate employee performance; resolve minor complaints and initiate disciplinary measures as appropriate.
• Carry out Equal Employment Opportunity policies and program activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• VA may offer newly appointed federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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