Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

This position is located at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) provides sterilization preparation supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center.

Major Duties:

• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well.
• Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners mechanical washers cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents as determined by manufacturer instructions
• Inspects assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam Sterrad and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors.
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.
• Prepares operating room case carts daily utilizing surgery schedule.
• Removes soil blood tissue fragments body fluids and other contaminants by wiping soaking rinsing and scrubbing.
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room.
• Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes.

Work Schedule: PM Shift Monday-Friday 3pm-11:30 with holiday and weekend rotation.
Telework: Not Authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 01170F 01169F 01172F 01173F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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 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 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.

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:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States.
• English Language Proficiency - English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Experience and/or Education - Experience - Six months of experience that demonstrates the 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.

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).

In addition to the basic requirements applicants must meet the following Grade Determinations.

GS-03 Medical Supply Technician
Experience/Education Requirement: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04 Medical Supply Technician
Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements to qualify for the GS-04 you must meet one of the following experience or education requirements:

• Experience: Six months experience as a MST operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; OR
• Education:

  Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians hospital corpsmen medical service specialists or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces the US. Maritime Service or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.

• • Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
  • Basic knowledge of medical terminology to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
  • Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
  • Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 Medical Supply Technician

• Experience: Must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4).Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Performing segments of work pertaining to the decontamination sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME); completing segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center; operating equipment involved in sterilization processes; preparing operating room case carts; OR
• Education: Successful completion of four (4) academic years above high school leading to a Bachelors degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelors degree. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

• Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
• Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
• Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 Medical Supply Technician (Full Performance Level)

• Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology anatomy and physiology microbiology medical conditions and procedures.
• Knowledge of sterility principles in regard to instrumentation.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Preferred Experience: 1 year of Sterile Processing experience and/or certification

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination preparation clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot cold drafty and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls scrapes cuts bruises and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.
On a regular and recurring basis the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean employee wears special clothing hair covers personal protective equipment and shoe cover that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases are unknown. The employee often works around body fluids mucous excretions and bits of tissue some of which may be foul smelling. Strong unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.