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Summary VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon, outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Responsibilities The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: This position is located in Sterile Processing Service (SPS), Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. SPS is the central point within the Medical Center responsible for the reprocessing of all critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD). The Assistant Chief of SPS must ensure compliance with VHA Directive 1116, ANSI/AAMI recommendations, local Medical Center policies, and SPS standard operating procedures (SOPs). The Assistant Chief assists and supports the SPS Chief in establishing and maintaining SPS daily operations: planning, organizing, delegating, and coordinating all aspects of the SPS service. The Assistant Chief is also responsible for overseeing all aspects and functions within SPS necessary for safe patient care in the use of critical and semi-critical RMD. The Assistant Chief is accountable to the SPS Chief for administration of the Sterile Processing Service within Portland VA Medical Center, and has authority to act on behalf of the SPS Chief in their absence, including the coordination and integration of the functions of SPS with all other Medical Center activities, collaborating with the heads of other departments to resolve mutual problems and/or areas of concern. The Assistant Chief is expected to exercise independent judgment and action on a routine basis and will be given a wide latitude and responsibility for exercising independent judgment. - SPS Supervisors responsible for ensuring Sterile Processing staff meet departmental and organizational expectations, and delegates tasks and responsibilities as necessary; - SPS Quality Assurance Technician(s) and associated quality programs; - MST Coordinator(s) and associated electronic instrument tracking system programs; - RMD Trainer(s) and associated educational and training programs. - maintaining SPS Life Safety Management (fire, safety, and emergency) preparedness program; - formulating and communicating SPS response to facility patient safety reports and concerns; - coordinating SPS response to product recalls; - facilitating all SPS interactions with Human Resources; - providing guidance and direction Sterile Processing staff on the interpretation of program requirements; - ensuring all SPS suspenses are completed and submitted on time. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0700 am-3:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorize Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification: None 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. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. 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: GS-09 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Assistant Chief Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to plan and project staffing needs and requirements. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. Ability to manage, direct and adapt work to accomplish program goals and objectives, and meet new and changing program requirements. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. 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 Ability to evaluate new products and equipment, develop options, and make recommendations. Ability to manage, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget. 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. 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-9. Physical Requirements: Work requires moderate lifting (15-44lbs), moderate carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulders, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, repeated bending, both legs required, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Environmental factors are working outside and inside, in excessive heat and cold, constant noise, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around machinery with moving parts, working with hands in water, and working alone. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/. Additional Information Driving is required for this position. Must have a valid drivers license. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.