Summary This position is located in the VA Ann Arbor Health System Operating Room Suite within the Surgery Service. The incumbent functions at an advanced level with specific and specialized training and skills required in the Surgery work setting. Responsibilities of this position include organizing, directing, and evaluating the patient care delivery system within the intra-operative setting and under a matrix organization accountable to the Operating Room Nurse Manager. Responsibilities Major Duties: The incumbent is responsible for the supervision of all Technicians with the operating room staff at Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The working supervisor/technician is responsible for operations, and equipment within the unit. Areas of responsibility include but are not limited to: Supervisory Duties: Provides direct supervision to scrub technicians, Medical Instrument Technicians, Supply Technician, and Health Technicians performing a variety of duties within the operating room setting at the VAAAHS. This responsibility includes development of performance standards, writing position descriptions, evaluating work performance, counseling of employees whose performance is marginal or unsatisfactory, and initiating disciplinary action when necessary. Receives formal grievances, resolving those that can be resolved at the first full supervisory level. Hears and resolves complaints from employees. Oversees the daily operation of the unit involving the OR technicians, ensures that agency policies and priorities are being followed, work assignments made to maximize OR time, patient care, and provide exceptional care to Veterans. Collaborates with intradepartmental and interdepartmental supervisors and leadership to negotiate, decide, implement, and monitor effectiveness of work-related changes affecting the operating room. Incumbent is the leave approving official, approving/denying requests for leave for the operating room technicians. Responsible for creating a fair and equitable vacation schedule, holiday on call schedule, as well as tracking leave usage and taking disciplinary action as necessary. Interview candidates for positions in the unit; prepares formal requests and recommendations for promotions, reassignments to such positions, and other status changes, or recognition of outstanding performance of assigned employees. Responsible for yearly performance appraisals, mid-term appraisals, and competency's. Annually reviews the functional statements and the performance standards on all employees under his/her supervision. Determines staffing requirement based on past, present, and future workload patterns and develops the monthly schedules in conjunction with the operating room manager. Supports OR Educator with formal orientation, training, and evaluation programs involving the various operating room technicians. Participating in education through departmental in-services. Participates in the evaluation of new and established employees. Utilizes developed expertise in surgical technology and supply inventory. Ensures technicians are compliant with AORN and AST standards of practice as well as hospital and unit specific policies. Other duties Ensures that adequate quantities of existing supplies are available to meet workload demands of the OR Technicians, through a cooperative systemized process managed by "logistics." Assures that clean core is stocked with necessary supplies always with special attention to emergent equipment and supplies. Routinely checks for and removes outdated/expired items before the expiration date. Coordinates new product evaluation (researching product information, obtaining quotes, analyzing product benefits, present to committee for approval). Recommends methods and products to reduce costs and/or increase quality. Works with vendors for new/additional instrumentation needs Keeps abreast of the repairs and installation of OR equipment in conjunction with SPS and Biomed. Serves as a liaison between Operating Room, SPS, and Biomedical Engineering. Recommends equipment improvements, repairs, upgrades, etc. Participates in quality assurance and improvement activities in the department. Incumbent performs regular QA assessments on technician related items (i.e. medication labeling, hand washing, instrument cleaning…) to assure the highest quality level. Covers implant coordinator responsibilities (entering pre-surgical consults, tracking implants, entering post-surgical consults) as necessary during leave periods Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 6:30am - 3:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD63100 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Designated and/or random drug testing may be required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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 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 by the closing date of this announcement, 10/31/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS 09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 08. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Interchange Agreement: Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience - At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-08) in the Federal service that has provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. Specialized experience is experience assisting a surgical team with/during surgical procedures. Examples of specialized experience include: Provide direct supervision to surgical technicians. Counsels employees whose performance is marginal or unsatisfactory, and initiates disciplinary action when needed. Completes yearly performance appraisals, mid-term appraisals, and competency's. Ensures technicians are compliant with AORN and AST standards of practice as well as hospital and unit specific policies. Assigns work for subordinate employees. Possess knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery. Able to Scrub intraoperative cases in the operating rooms during procedures as needed. Adheres to hospital infection control and safety policies/techniques with emphasis on sterile technique; the storage of sterile supplies; the disposal of body fluids and 'sharps', proper surgical attire, hand washing practices. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR Two full years graduate education OR Combination of Specialized Experience and education beyond master or equivalent degree. NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required only if it is directly related to the work of the position (Surgical Technician). An equivalent combination of experience and education as described above may be used to qualify. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Managing Human Resources Planning and Evaluating Technical Competence Preferred Experience: 5 years as Surgical Technician with exposure to positions of leadership Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are stages of unconsciousness. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. Incumbent must 'be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. 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 This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Competitive Service and does not confer Excepted 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.