Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief

The Assistant Chief position is located at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS). The Assistant Chief is responsible for assisting the Chief, SPS in oversight of all operational and administrative activities of the service, quality management system activities within SPS, to include training, competency assessment, development and enforcement of standard operating procedures and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments..

The Assistant Chief Sterile Processing Service 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 Equipment (RME). The Assistant Chief is required to attend regularly scheduled meetings as assigned to represent SPS and to provide written and verbal reports. 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, in preparing and evaluating future scheduling projects, anticipating future workload requirements to forecast appropriate staffing levels, in managing the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing 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 and in conjunction with Chief, SPS, responsible for developing policies and procedures that meet the infection prevention standards set by JC, AAMI, AORN, IAHCSMM and others and for monitoring compliance with those policies to meet established local, VISN, VHA and JC requirements for safe patient care. Knowledgeable and prepared to function as Acting Chief of the service. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Through subordinate supervisors provides technical and direct supervision to over 50 GS-5 through GS-9 Medical Supply Technicians. Manages, directs and adapts work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and to meet new and changing program requirements. Issues, adapts, implements and maintains local SPS policies and procedures as applicable to specific facility/system programs. Solicits assistance from, or responds to, inquiries from outside regulatory and advisory agencies to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures from organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), Joint Commission (JC), International Association for Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM), Association of PeriOperative Nurses (AORN), and others. Responsible for facilitating training in various aspects of SPS, including reprocessing and inventory management. Conducts departmental orientation, training, skills review and assists with educational programs to maintain high staff quality performance standards. 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. Responsible for continuous quality improvement projects. Oversees appropriate reprocessing of reusable medical equipment (RME) to eliminate risk of infection and to provide timely safe patient care in all patient care areas. Reusable Medical Equipment is any medical equipment designed by the manufacturer to be reused for multiple patients. Personnel who are involved in the reprocessing of RME are responsible for knowing what reusable instruments, equipment, medical devices or supplies are used (inventory) in their clinical area. Must be familiar with which items are reprocessed locally (on unit) and/or which items are sent to Sterile Processing for reprocessing and/or sterilization. If items are transported for reprocessing, must be aware of the individual decontamination steps that must be taken prior to transport of item and the appropriate method of transport; in reprocessing of RME personnel is responsible for following the local Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) drafted in accordance with the manufacturer's written recommendations. Sterile Processing and Infection Control should be consulted when clarification of written instructions is needed. Personnel involved in reprocessing any reusable medical equipment based must have documented training in the set up and reply on vendor's verbal instructions, reprocessing and maintenance of specific equipment and validation of competency will be done according to national policy guidelines, reprocessing reusable medical equipment can suspend the reuse of any RME if they suspect that the device was not properly cleaned, disinfected or sterilized according to the SOP and manufacturer's guidelines. Single-use (disposable) medical devices will not be reused or re-sterilized and must have an understanding of the importance of RME and the significant impact through the risk of infectious disease. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 (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. 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.