Summary The Surgical Technician supports surgeons and nurses in the Operating Room by preparing sterile environments, managing instruments and equipment, and assisting with complex surgical procedures. The role ensures safe, efficient surgical care and contributes to quality patient outcomes at the West Palm Beach VA Health Care System. Responsibilities Primary Duties: - Perform primary scrub duties for diverse surgical specialties - Prepare, organize, and maintain sterile fields, instruments, and equipment - Anticipate surgeon needs and support all phases of surgical procedures - Adhere to infection control standards and handle specimens appropriately - Assist with patient positioning, preparation, and procedural support - Maintain OR equipment, supplies, and safe work areas - Support staff training, collaboration, and quality improvement - Comply with VA policy, aseptic standards, and patient privacy requirements Work Schedule: 7:00am - 3:30pm on call nights, weekends, and holidays Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD03055A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation/Recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. 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 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 or trial 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. Preferred Experience: - Certified Surgical Technologist (CST or TS-C) with an accredited Associate Degree, or completion of a recognized surgical technician program - Minimum of 3 years of hands-on surgical technology experience (1-3 years of hospital experience strongly preferred) - Demonstrated proficiency with robotic platforms, including MAKO and DaVinci systems - Clinical experience across multiple service lines such as ophthalmology, endovascular procedures, and orthopedics 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to, performing primary scrub duties across multiple surgical specialties; preparing and maintaining sterile fields and complex instrument sets; anticipating surgeon needs during routine and advanced procedures; applying aseptic and infection control principles; managing and troubleshooting surgical equipment; handling and verifying specimens; assisting with patient positioning and procedural preparation; maintaining OR readiness and safety; collaborating with surgical, nursing, SPS, logistics, and vendor staff; utilizing surgical databases and adhering to VA, RME, and policy requirements; and responding appropriately to perioperative changes and emergent situations.. Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Infection Control Information Assurance Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Effectiveness Interpersonal Skills Organizational Awareness Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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 position requires long periods of standing, walking, bending, and stooping. The incumbent must lift, carry, and move moderately heavy items and assist with patient transfers. Duties require holding retractors and maintaining awkward positions for extended periods. The role demands manual dexterity for handling instruments and the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, high-stress surgical environment with exposure to bodily fluids, chemicals, and radiation, using appropriate protective equipment. 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 Veterans' Preference does not apply to this internal job announcement. Whole Health Statement: The VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model that is based in a partnership across time, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. 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. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.
