Summary

Medical Supply Technician with the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System. Supports Sterile Processing through decontamination - sterilization - and assembly of medical instruments and equipment. Requires safety awareness - mandatory training - flexibility - occasional travel - and a valid Texas/Federal driver's license. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT open until Sept 30 - 2026 - or until all positions are filled. Join a mission-driven team supporting exceptional Veteran care.

Qualifications

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3g.) Experience and/or Education (1) Experience
• Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
• or (2) Education
• One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing - nursing assistant - hospital corpsman - and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position
• or (3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Certification
• None
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• English Language Proficiency
• MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• Grade Determinations The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-03 (Entry Level) (a) Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Assignment
• This is an entry level MST position
• MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• GS-04 (Developmental Level) (a) Experience
• Six months experience as a MST - operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting
• or (b) Education
• Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation
• NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians - hospital corpsmen - medical service specialists - or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces - the U.S. Maritime Service - or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision - may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets
• Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing
• (d) Assignment
• This is a developmental level MST position
• Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME)
• Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center
• Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes
• Prepares operating room case carts
• MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• GS-05 (Developmental Level) (a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• or (b) Education
• Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility
• Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment
• (d) Assignment: This is a developmental level MST position
• Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other containments by wiping - soaking - rinsing - and scrubbing
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization - assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room
• Prepares - loads - and operates sterilizers such as steam - Sterrad - Steris - ETO - and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor
• prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule
• MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments
• GS-06 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Working knowledge of medical terminology - anatomy and physiology - microbiology - medical conditions and procedures
• Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures
• (c) Assignment
• This is the full performance level for the occupation
• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well
• Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method - such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers - cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents - as determined by manufacturer instructions
• Inspects - assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam - Sterrad - Steris - ETO - and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in decontamination - preparation - clean supply areas - and other hospital departments
• Conditions may be hot - cold - drafty - or poorly lit
• The role requires standing and walking for the full shift - frequent bending - and lifting up to 50 pounds
• Dexterity and visual acuity are needed for handling and assembling instruments
• The employee regularly moves between contaminated and clean environments and must wear required protective equipment - which may be warm or uncomfortable
• There is exposure to hot surfaces - strong or unpleasant odors - body fluids - and noisy equipment
• These requirements align with VA Directive/Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Complete all application requirements detailed in the \"Required Documents\" section of this announcement
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Perform decontamination - preparation - sterilization - and distribution of reusable medical equipment and supply items
• Process surgical instruments - trays - sets - and both disposable and reusable patient-care items
• Apply required procedures for cleaning - disinfection - sterilization - and assembly of RME in accordance with SOPs
• Maintain current knowledge of RME standards - SOPs - and proper equipment use
• Demonstrate proficiency in handling - preparing - and inspecting RME
• Support Community Based Outpatient Clinics with occasional travel when coverage is required
• Attend VHA-sponsored training or certification opportunities as assigned
• Maintain a valid Oklahoma and Federal Driver License to operate a government vehicle
• Promote a culture of patient safety through adherence to safety procedures and timely reporting of actual or potential events
• Follow established reporting protocols for patient safety concerns
• Performs other duties as assigned - commensurate with grade level
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday through Friday - 3:30 PM - 12:00 AM and 11:30 PM - 8:00 AM Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 635-51526-A - 635-51527-A - 635-51528-A - 635-51529-A