The Montana VAHCS, located in Fort Harrison, MT, is hiring for an Assistant Chief, Sterile Processing Service (SPS) position for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the Sterile Processing Service of the Montana VA Healthcare System.

Duties

The incumbent of this position will be supporting the decontamination, preparation, and distribution of the hospital's critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD), medical equipment and oversight for non-critical RMD with supervisory responsibilities for personnel in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS). Major duties and responsibilities of the position include: 1. The incumbent will perform 10% of duties as a Medical Supply Technician (MST) to provide backup and fill in as necessary, 20% of duties as the Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) Coordinator, and 70% of duties as the Assistant Chief. 2. Responsible for assisting the Chief, Sterile Processing Services (SPS), in oversight of all operational and administrative activities of the service. 3. Responsible to oversee quality management system activities within SPS, to include training, competency assessment, development, and enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs). 4. Assists the Chief, SPS to adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and to meet new and changing program requirements. 5. Serves as liaison between SPS and other departments. 6. Assists Chief, SPS, in managing the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) for equipment assigned to SPS such as sterilizers, washer/disinfector, ultrasonic, sealers through the nonexpendable property program for the assigned facility/system and requests replacement of all equipment under their purview as needed in conjunction with Lead MSTs. 7. In the absence of the Chief, serves as a member or in an advisory capacity on committees such as Commodity Standardization, Infection Control, Environment of Care, and Reusable Medical Devices. In addition, the Assistant Chief is required to attend regularly scheduled meetings as assigned to represent SPS and to provide written and verbal reports as required. 8. Issues, adapts, implements and maintains local SPS policies and procedures as applicable to specific facility/system programs in conjunction with the Chief, SPS 9. Assists the Chief, SPS in developing, directing and maintaining a Quality Control Program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological monitoring, product assessment and other means, and providing specific reports as required. 10. Assists Chief, SPS in preparing and evaluating future scheduling projects, anticipating future workload requirements to forecast appropriate staffing levels. 11. Works closely with Supply Chain Management to monitor inventory levels to identify and take corrective action on matters relating to potential inventory shortages created because of additional case volume, scrap, or any customer related skills that may exist. 12. Ensure that all individuals charged with reprocessing duties of RMD are appropriately trained and competency is documented prior to the performance of the assigned tasks. 13. Ensure that specific processes and procedures are in place for reprocessing all critical and semi-critical RMD to include reprocessing of RMD after hours as needed for back up. 14. Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and competency assessments for the reprocessing of all critical and semi-critical RMD and the operation and maintenance of equipment used in the reprocessing of critical and semi-critical RMD according to manufacturer's guidelines in coordination with Department end-users. 15. Ensure that all SOPs pertaining to RMD are kept up to date, reviewed in accordance to their risk assessment score either annually, or every 2 or 3 years, and updated if there is a change in process or a change in manufacturer's Instructions for Use (IFU). SOPs will be written in plain language and will be accessible to all staff at all times. 16. Understand the principles of infection prevention and control as they relate to reprocessing of critical and semi critical RMD including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), which is specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. 17. Directly supervises all levels of Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) within the SPS Department. 18. Supervisor provides guidance concerning strategic program requirements, objectives and interpretation but incumbent works primarily independently and refers only problems with difficulty to the supervisor for discussion and advice. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD56913A/SUPERVISORY MEDICAL SUPPLY TECHNICIAN (STERILE PROCESSING) ASSISTANT CHIEF Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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-9 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples include but are not limited to: Functioning as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Overseeing attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informing higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommending promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holding corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolving informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Providing technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements. 2. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. 3. Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements. 4. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. 5. 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. 7. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/83 Part II Appendix G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity, must be able to express or exchange ideals by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Montana VA Health Care System 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]