Supply Technician

Veterans Health Administration•Mather AFB, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Supply Technician (Medical) in the Medical Supply Distribution areas of Supply Chain Management Service within a VA Health Care System. The technician provides sterile and non-sterile medical supplies, instrument sets, equipment, and other materials to wards, clinics, operating rooms, secondary storage locations, and other hospital facilities. The role maintains stock and inventory locations, fulfills routine and emergent requests, supports customers, and uses computerized, bar-coding, and automated inventory systems to monitor and control supplies. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not authorized. A current, valid state-issued driver’s license is required, and travel in a government vehicle may be needed to deliver supplies to local CBOCs, hospitals, and clinics. The position requires standing and walking throughout the workday, frequent reaching, bending, and lifting, and pushing loaded supply carts. Work takes place throughout the medical center and supported areas, including wards, storage buildings, and warehouses, with environments ranging from clean to hot, cold, drafty, or poorly lit. Some supported units may be offsite, requiring round-trip travel exceeding 90 minutes.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
A current, valid state-issued driver’s license is required.
Applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements if they are current or former Federal employees applying under the stated circumstances.
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 is required, or qualifying education, or an acceptable combination of specialized experience and education.
Qualifying specialized experience includes providing supplies and materials to clinical and administrative areas of a complex health care facility; scanning, bar-coding, receiving, storing, and distributing medical and surgical supplies, instruments, and materials; pulling and replenishing stock and maintaining stock-level records; monitoring expiration dates; cleaning according to aseptic principles; using automated inventory systems; and answering customer questions about supplies and materials.
If qualifying through education, four years of education above high school in any field for which high school graduation or its equivalent is the normal prerequisite is required; transcripts must be submitted.
For the GS-05 combination qualification, only education beyond 60 semester hours (two years) is creditable toward the combination.
A transcript is required when education is used to qualify; education must be from an appropriately accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Must complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding; acceptable identification is required for pre-employment requirements.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
The work requires standing and walking throughout the workday, frequent reaching, bending, and lifting supply packages occasionally weighing up to 50 pounds; pushing loaded carts weighing over 100 pounds; and, with proper assistance, moving heavier items over 40 pounds.
Work may involve trips, falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, or other injury risks, and exposure to dust or other infectious pollutants while moving between work environments.

Responsibilities

Provides medical supplies, instruments, equipment, and other materials to wards, clinics, operating rooms, secondary storage locations, and other hospital facilities.
Maintains stock and primary and secondary inventory locations for clinical and administrative services.
Pulls stock, replenishes inventory, interacts with customers, and maintains records of stock levels.
Distributes items according to established or ad hoc requirements in a computerized inventory management system.
Prepares and stocks specialty carts.
Informs clinic and ward personnel about new or changed items and supplies, available medical resources, and shelf life.
Communicates supply, equipment, or procedure concerns to the lead or supervisor and escalates complex or unresolved issues to a supervisor or senior staff.
Provides customers and external stakeholders with information about medical supplies.
Works with customers and clinical and administrative personnel to address supply management issues, clarify requirements, explain delays, expedite deliveries, and resolve problems.
Maintains inventory-system data integrity and accuracy using computerized, bar-coding, and automated inventory systems.
Uses automated inventory systems to monitor issues and receipts and support stock replenishment.
Performs scheduled daily inventory using bar-coding equipment.
Delivers supplies accurately and on time, ensuring they are sterile and operational when required.
Monitors and controls critical supplies; checks for recalled items and hazard alerts.
Monitors expiration dates, rotates stock to limit outdates, and removes expired items from use.
Cleans assigned areas according to aseptic principles, infection-control guidelines, local SOPs, and Joint Commission standards.
Recommends stock-level revisions to Inventory Management Specialists as supply needs change.
Interprets policies, procedures, manuals, and regulations related to supply and inventory management and federal acquisition systems.
Resolves discrepancies between inventory records and physical counts.
Fulfills requests according to daily schedules or on an emergent basis, as appropriate.
Monitors stock usage in medical center areas and adjusts inventory as needed.
Delivers supplies by government vehicle to local CBOCs, hospitals, and clinics when necessary.