This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VISN 10, Cincinnati, Ohio VA Medical Center, in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) under the Chief, SPS. The position is required to work as needed on other than normal working tours of duty, either in the evenings, nights, holidays or weekends. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Experience and/or Education: 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. One year of combined experience and education. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs. 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements above, candidates must meet the following grade requirements. GS-9 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing): Must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-8). Examples of specialized experience may include but is not limited to: Oversees a work team that includes at least one MST position that is above the full performance. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Assures an even distribution of the workload. When necessary, revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform decontamination of scopes and instrumentation in the work area. Monitors and reports on the status of work. Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow. Reviews or spot checks scope processing work to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions (e.g., work sequences, procedures, methods, and deadlines). Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of scope medical equipment, material and instrumentation. Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes and task completion. Instructs employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures and goals. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): 1. Ability to read and interpret written procedures and select appropriate action in order to instruct staff in correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments. 2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives, rules and regulations. 3. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. 4. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures. 5. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. Assignment - The Assistant Chief contributes to the oversight of all supervision, administrative management and direction of the SPS. Oversees all decontamination, sterilization and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations. Contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation and fiscal management. Makes selections, assigns personnel and provides direction to subordinate staff. Manages the training, documenting and evaluating of staff. Serves as liaison between SPS and other departments. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II, APPENDIX G47, MEDICAL SUPPLY TECHNICIAN (STERILE PROCESSING) QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-622, DATED JULY 8, 2015. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, such as prolonged periods of standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, and similar activities in and around storage areas. The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness such as hot temperatures in decontamination and/or by the steam sterilizers. The employee may be required to use protective clothing or gear such as protective hair bouffants, masks, gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields. Similarly, employee may be required to follow special precautions when working around bio-hazard material. ["Major Duties: Responsible for ensuring that local SPS staff comply with the requirements for reporting potentially compromised RME incidents. He/she also ensures education, proficiency, and training requirements of staff responsible for the reprocessing of RME. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of SPS programs that directly affect patient care. Provides centralized support of the medical center's patient care programs, while assuring appropriate aseptic conditions, economy of operation, and consistency in processing, storing, and distribution, all under strictly controlled conditions for all RME. Serves as the main contact for all SPS related issue s when communicating with the VISN and National Offices on related matters in the absence of the Chief, SPS. He/she may participate on VISN and CO Level committees with the purpose of improving operations and sharing best practice processes. Regional and National Level involvement may require the Assistant Chief to travel to various conferences and practice workgroup meetings to stay current with state of the art technology offered in the field. Supervisory responsibility over the organization known as SPS and answers directly to the Chief of SPS requiring tact, diplomacy, and reliable decision making abilities to carry out assigned responsibilities, will be certified by completing the VA SPS Certification Program and maintaining certification requirements while in the position, and is responsible for ensuring that SPS staff comply with the requirements for reporting potentially compromised RME incidents. Exercises independent judgment in aligning administrative controls and communicating, planning, training, and directing the functional activities of SPS within broader medical center goals and policies. Participating on a variety of medical center committees including: Infection Control Committee (EHICC). RME Committee. Commodity Product Review Committee. Equipment Committee RME Committee Operative and Invasive Committee OR Scheduling Committee Technical oversight of all reprocessing of RME and equipment used in reprocessing wherever such reprocessing occurs within the facility, regardless of organizational alignment. Development, administration, and validation of initial and annual competencies for staff performing reprocessing of RME and for all personnel involved in using the reprocessing equipment. Ensuring all functions of SPS, regardless of organizational alignment are functioning effectively; this includes: decontamination, preparation, case cart and distribution, etc. Accountable for the following the delegated supervisory and managerial authority's responsibilities in support of the Chief, SPS which are exercised on a recurring basis. Assures reasonable equity (among units, groups, teams, projects.) of performance standards and rating techniques developed by subordinates or assuring comparable equity in the assessment by subordinates of the adequacy of contractor capabilities or of contractor completed work; Direction of a major program segment with significant resources. Making decisions on work problems presented by subordinate supervisors, team leaders or by contractors; Evaluating subordinate supervisors or leaders and serving as the reviewing official on evaluations of nonsupervisory employees rated by subordinate supervisors. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 81005-0\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]