Summary The Administrative Officer reports directly to the Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) at the VA St Louis Health Care System. The SPS consists of staff including nurses, sterile supply personnel, and administrative personnel. The purpose of this position is to support the service and represent the Chief of SPS, and service managers in all administrative matters. Responsibilities Major Duties: Provides for the overall administrative management of the (SPS). Responsible for advising, planning, developing policies, implementing and evaluating administrative processes and programs such as as contract and funds management, staffing efficiency, labor mapping, RMD, and communications across the service line. Monitors administrative performance and suspense actions - facilitating guidance from the Chief of SPS to ensure issues dealing with program specific suspense, compliance, and processing RMD are brought to closure. Interprets administrative policies, develops local policies, defines administrative requirements, and/or provides advice to the Chief on related issues. Provides advice on interpretation and application of a variety of human resources policies, practices and procedures that affect SPS. Reviews and maintains personnel action requests, awards, promotions, and supervisors' disciplinary action documentation. Reviews related reports and analyzes trends to identify deficiencies or discrepancies and recommend plans to improve efficiency of processing actions and solutions to eliminate recurrence of unfavorable conditions. Coordinates and monitors training and education requirements for the SPS, including professional education, safety, and computer training. Ensures SPS complies with all provisions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Program, VHA regulations and established Medical Center guidelines, providing compliance reports to the Chief for direct reports as well as to supervisors for their employees. Reviews the SPS annual education program and schedules training to meet the needs of the organization and/or employee. Ensures that training requests are appropriately prepared, staffed, and comply with regulatory requirements such as eligibility and proper coding of purpose, @type, source, and special interest in other required information. Serves as administrative liaison to Sterile Processing Leadership, Associate Director Patient Care Services and various other offices across the VISN and VHA, engaging in discussions on policy making and resource allocation to improve services, solve problems and provide quality patient care. Performs review and analysis of productivity data, developing action plans that lead to improved performance and/or productivity and implementation of improved management controls. Establishes and maintains necessary controls for effective financial oversight - monitoring budget information, justification, execution, financial management, and financial reporting. Maintains responsibility for the SPS Equipment Inventory List, monitoring for end of life, replacement, or repair needs, and incorporating this information into annual budget plans. Performs cost analysis and cost effectiveness studies to determine make/buy decisions to address gaps in sterilization processes/patient care. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (some variance) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Administrative Officer/PD096760 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/06/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience that demonstrates the ability to perform a wide range of administrative, analytical, and technical duties in support of organizational operations. This includes providing guidance on personnel and administrative management functions; managing internal controls, records, publications, and workflow processes; and coordinating recruitment actions in compliance with HR requirements. Experience analyzing productivity data, identifying operational issues, and developing recommendations or action plans to improve efficiency. Additionally includes experience in financial management activities such as budget formulation, execution, monitoring, and financial reporting; performing cost analyses to support resource decisions; serving as a Contracting Officer Representative; preparing contract solicitation packages; and managing non-expendable equipment inventory and ordering processes. Experience coordinating training requirements and supporting space planning to ensure resources align with organizational needs. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary, although there is some walking, bending, and lifting. It is sometimes necessary to work at the computer for extended periods of time. The position requires the ability to concentrate with frequent interruptions. Some travel within the healthcare delivery system is required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
