Summary This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service at the Columbia VA Healthcare System, located in Columbia, SC. The incumbent practices as the Assistant Chief of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS). SPS is a central service within the organization from which patient care medical/surgical supply inventory, instruments, and equipment are received, processed, packaged, and distributed. Announcement closes 9/26/2025 OR when the applicant count of 50 has been reached. Responsibilities Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) at the Columbia VA Healthcare System, located in Columbia, SC. The incumbent practices as the Assistant Chief of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS). SPS is a central service within the organization from which patient care medical/surgical supply inventory, instruments, and equipment are received, processed, packaged, and distributed. The Assistant Chief of SPS has oversight of all supervision, administrative management and direction of SPS. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Position reports to the Chief of Sterile Processing Service and has staff responsibility for the daily operational and management of the SPS Section, exercising supervisory authority over the Supervisory, Medical Supply Technicians and in turn with the Team Leads and Medical Supply Technicians. The Assistant Chief of SPS serves as a technical advisor and consultant including provide RMD oversight, i.e. the reprocessing of critical and semi-critical RMD. As the Assistant Chief of SPS, the incumbent participates in the planning and facilitating of sterilization of reusable medical devices for use throughout all clinical and patient care areas of the medical center to include our Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations. In doing so, he/she contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation and fiscal management. Responsible for developing, updating, and writing policies and procedures (including RMD) for the department including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Job Instruction (JI) sheets/documents. Plan and project staffing needs and requirements and provide them to the Chief. Assists in identifying developmental and training needs of employees, providing or arranging for needed development and training. Use supervisors to direct, coordinate and oversee work. Solicits assistance from, or responds to inquiries from outside regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission, Office of the Inspector General, Food and Drug Administration, Association for the advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Plans work, develops recommendations, and refines the methods/techniques to be used in SPS which typically involve the interpretation of substantial data, application of criteria to a variety of operating situations. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7AM - 3:30PM. Work schedule subject to change based on department needs. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized. Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be paid to a Highly Qualified candidate. Note: Definition of Highly Qualified Candidates: Candidates who possess unique skills and competencies needed to perform critical mission-essential functions. Per OPM.gov, to be Highly Qualified, the candidates are considered by the Human Resources Office and the subject matter expert (selecting official) as being highly proficient in all the requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position almost immediately or with a minimum amount of training and/or orientation. (Highly Qualified is not defined by years of experience alone). Refer to VA Handbook 5007, Part VI, Ch. 3 Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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 #: 60142F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Experience and/or Education: Your submitted application must demonstrate at least one of the following: (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. Grade Determinations: GS-09 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (see GS-8 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Assignment below). (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs in their resume: Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. 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. 6. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. Ability to manage, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget. GS-08 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Assignment. The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommends promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holds corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. Preferred Experience: Seeking an individual who is a critical thinker with strong work ethics, positive character with integrity, and mission centered with strong computer skills. Supervisor/management experience preferred. Must have Sterile Processing experience with advanced knowledge of Sterile Processing operations and budget and procurement purchasing experience. Additional GI, Dental or Surgical Tech experience is a plus. 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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-09. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 2019.The Assistant Chief of SPS is not expected to perform heavy lifting, but may be expected at times to perform moderate lifting as well as moderate carrying, such as a box of paper or device trays, which weigh between 15 to 44 pounds. This position may at times require the candidate to assist front line staff which would require standing for up to 8 hours per day. The position will require the candidate to walk short and long distances in a hospital setting up to 4 hours per day. At times, this may include use of stairs but no other climbing. The position requires the candidate to bend to fill carts or reach to get items off a shelf. This position will require the candidate to read a computer screen and other documents for extended period of times for up to 4-5 hours consecutively and will require ability to communicate verbally via the phone, in person to other employees and perform presentations to committees and groups of people. Corrected vision via glasses or contacts is appropriate and use of a hearing aid or other device to correct hearing to within normal adult frequencies is allowed and appropriate. Use of fingers to @type on computer keyboard, sign documents, etc. is required. At times, the candidate will need to work in the department which has excessive heat and humidity due to the equipment in the area. In addition, while working in the department, there may be constant noise and possibility of slippery surfaces. Due to the functions of the department, gloved hands may be submerged in water for extended periods of time. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
