Summary This position is located in Sterile Processing Service (SPS), Lebanon VA Medical Center, Lebanon, Pennsylvania. This position provides leadership by identifying and maintaining SPS standards, for the practice of all services and care lines, and contributes to the fulfillment of the Mission of the clinical areas. Responsibilities Duties include but not limited to:The following is a summary of the major essential functions of this job. The Incumbent may perform other related duties as assigned, both major and minor not mentioned below; periodically specific functions may change. The incumbent supervises staff that range in grade from the GS 9, Assistant Chief, SPS, to the GS 6, medical technicians. The skill-level diversity of staff creates a supervisory challenge in maintaining staff expertise in a discipline of ever-changing technology. The incumbent must continually assure that SPS staff maintains quality and standards in reusable medical equipment (RME) processing. The incumbent provides oversight to all facility RME; assuring actions regarding facility RME purchases are appropriate. The incumbent provides oversight to all facility RME standard operating procedures (SOPs) to assure accordance with all procedures. The incumbent faces frequent deadline changes. Whenever the surgery schedule is altered, there is increased pressure for the Chief, SPS, to assure delivery of the alternate procedure trays. Interaction with the vendor/contractor to expedite delivery of required surgical items has a direct impact on the timeliness of surgery and patient care. The Chief, SPS, is responsible for assessing, monitoring, developing, and assisting with implementing corrective action plans for instrument and RME processing, decontamination, sterilization, biological monitoring, and high-level disinfecting monitoring. He/she will coordinate recall of facility sterilized items whose sterility may have been compromised. The Chief, SPS, is an active member of the Commodities Standards Committee, Medical Equipment Committee, and the Co-Chairperson of the RME Committee, and he/she will be an active participant in Environmental Rounds and Operating Room (OR)/SPS Quality Management (QM) meetings. The Chief, SPS, will collaborate and communicate information or concerns between clinical services and SPS. The Chief, SPS, manages the overall SPS budget including determining resource needs, allocating resources, and ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of SPS operations. The Chief, SPS, is accountable to the Associate Director, Patient Care Services (AD-PCS)/Nurse Executive and networks closely with Inventory Management and Infection Control. He/she must be able to work independently with little direct supervision. Incumbent keeps the AD-PCS briefed on the status of different events, activities, and projects both within and external to the medical center. The incumbent exercises delegated authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of programs within SPS. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:00am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday (can be adjusted) Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized 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: Available on an Ad-hoc basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 04221-F 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. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. 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. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or 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 Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification. None. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-10 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to manage SPS operations. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. Ability to integrate SPS managerial duties, which includes strategic planning of facility organizational goals and integration of SPS vision and values within the organizational mission. 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. Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions. Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs. Preferrred Experience: VHA SPS Certification or any other nationally recognized certification such as HSPA's, CRCST or CBSPD certification program. SPS Experience. Management experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment evaluation [or examination] as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. 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 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. 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.
