Federal
Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Chief
Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
About This Position
The Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is a direct report to the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS), a Complexity 1C facility. This position is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines that influence the organizational mission and health care.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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. Grandfathering Provision. 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). GS-10 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician Chief (Sterile Processing) - Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-10 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Having oversight of all supervision, administrative management and direction of a Sterile Processing Service; overseeing all decontamination, sterilization and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME; developing and maintaining a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations; contributing to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation and fiscal management; making selections, assigning personnel and providing direction to subordinate staff; managing the training, documenting and evaluating of staff. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to manage SPS operations. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. Ability to integrate SPS managerial duties, which includes strategic planning of facility organizational goals and integration of SPS vision and values within the organizational mission. 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. Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions. Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs. Preferred Experience: 3-years experience in a Sterile Processing leadership role with skills in team management, staff training, and performance evaluation, across multiple physical sterilization sites. 3-years experience with extensive high-level sterilization processing, the equipment involved in such work, and engagement with engineering staff involved in managing facilities where such work is accomplished. 3-years experience demonstrating strong administrative skills and providing information to executive members of a health care setting. 3-years experience with accreditation and regulatory standards such as those set by The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Holds VA Level 1 and 2 Sterile Processing training; prefer Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) [or former Certification in Instrumental Sterilization (CCIS)] and Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) certifications. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 10. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
Major Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Chief of SPS plays a leadership role in ongoing systematic evaluation and improvement of quality and effectiveness of a SPS with 20 staff members in a main hospital campus at Biloxi MS. and a separate SPS site located at the Pensacola FL. location, and all its program outcomes. Duties of the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician Chief (Sterile Processing) may include but are not limited to: Provides health system-wide leadership for critical and semi-critical RMD, including sterile storage, reprocessing, standard operating procedures (SOP), competency assessment, selection, operation, and maintenance of reprocessing equipment, staff education program for RMDs, and quality management of SPS. Responsible for orientation, training, competency assessment, staff development, and enforcement of standard operating procedures. Assessing, monitoring, developing, and implementing corrective action plans for instrument processing, decontamination, sterilization, storage, biological monitoring, and high-level disinfection monitoring through an SPS Quality Management System. Maintains oversight and availability for consultation of non-critical RMD and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment (RME) to eliminate risk of infection. Manages the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) for equipment such as sterilizers, washer/disinfector, ultrasonic, and sealers through the nonexpendable property program for the assigned facility/system and requests replacement of all equipment under their purview as needed through the appropriate station committee and electronic equipment management/request platform. Evaluates concepts and project development Mentors staff, and medical providers in sterile processing principles and in the implementation of projects, data collection techniques, statistical analysis, and developing evidence based clinical guidelines and protocols. Prepares and evaluates future scheduling projects Anticipates future workload requirements Coordinates with facility leadership and Human Resource programs or personnel to ensure staffing for forecasted requirements. Demonstrates leadership in developing and maintaining productive working relationships with groups in other medical programs and services across the spectrum of care, including, but not limited to, Operative Care, Gastroenterology, ophthalmic surgical procedures, dental surgical procedures, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgical procedures, urological surgical procedures, and medical and surgical patient care areas. Chairs the Hospital RMD Committee and provides reports to both VISN and the National Program Office for Sterile Processing regularly. Executes leadership with accountability over the RMD program which includes the tracking of all equipment and preventive maintenance scheduling/management of a large inventory of SPS technology. Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of SPS personnel. Serves as the subject matter expert for all SPS activities and provides consultation when called upon. Promotes that it is paramount that all personnel understand the critical importance of RME and its significant impact on the Veteran population, as improper reprocessing poses a risk of infectious disease. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 6:30AM-3:00PM; Subject to change based on the needs of the facility Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 520-01262-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Conditions of Employment
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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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. Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle. Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process. 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.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: Current permanent VA employees of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System All other VA employees IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Additional Information
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 02/16/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12873341. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Resume/CV Other (2) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Chief position at Veterans Health Administration?
The salary range for this position is $72,580 - $94,349/yr. This is a GS-10 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Chief job located?
This position is located in Biloxi, Mississippi. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Basic Requirements: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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 ...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 16, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-10 mean?
GS-10 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.