Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

About the role

The LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center is recruiting to fill a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) position. This position is open to current, permanent LTC Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center and CBOC employees. Veterans' preference does not apply.

Responsibilities

• Provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center.
• Remove soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.
• Inspect packages for indications of proper sterilization, assemble basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room.
• Prepare, load, and operate sterilizers such as steam, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and a high-level disinfecting scope reprocessor; may prepare operating room case carts daily utilizing surgery schedule.
• Perform segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization, and inspection of reusable medical devices (RMD).
• Complete segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center.
• Operate equipment involved in sterilization processes. May be required to prepare operating room case carts.
• Utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of reusable medical devices (RMD) appropriate to this position.
• Receive contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD in decontamination area(s) such as main decontamination and GI Scope decontamination.
• Receive noncritical case carts in the decontamination area for transport of RMD as well.
• Disassemble the RMD and determine the correct cleaning method, such as but not limited to manual cleaning, ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents as determined by manufacturers instructions.
• Inspect, prepare, assemble and determine the correct method of packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to Steam, Plasma (Sterrad), and high-level disinfection such as Cidex OPA, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and the Automated Equipment Reprocessor (AER).
• Prepare operating rooms trays and containers daily utilizing surgery schedule.
• Operate equipment involved in sterilization processes.
• Document daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.

Qualifications

• To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/13/2026.
• 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: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
• 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
• Educational Requirements: 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.
• Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Removing soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing; Inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembling basic sets and trays used throughout a medical facility including those used in the operating room; preparing, loading, and operating sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 regards to instrumentation; Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.