Surgical Technician

The Surgical Technician (ST) functions as a member of the surgical team and aids the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Setting up sterile field with all required items such as air-power equipment, fiber optic equipment, microscopes, lasers, etc.
• Planning and discussing procedures with surgical professionals.
• Making sure all supplies and equipment are available prior to surgical procedure.
• Preparing and maintaining sterile surgical setups.
• Assisting the surgeon during surgical procedure.
• Handling specimens, supplies, and equipment following universal precaution and infection control policies.
• Assisting with patient care, i.e., positioning, prepping, etc.
• Assisting surgeon in such procedures as; preparing skin grafts, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures.
• Maintaining correct count of instruments used during procedures.
• Performing non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions.
• Assessing supplies and materials to maintain adequate stock.
• Providing customer service in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Providing customers with information according to policies and procedures.
• Making sure computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained.

Work Schedule: Variable shifts; typically, Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm or four 10-hour shifts, 7:00am - 5:30pm (40 hours per week).
Telework: This position is not authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD11576A
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
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.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/16/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:Individual Occupational Requirements -- Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Setting up sterile field with all required items such as air-power equipment, fiber optic equipment, microscopes, lasers, etc. Making sure all supplies and equipment are available prior to surgical procedure. Assisting the surgeon during surgical procedure. Handling specimens, supplies, and equipment following universal precaution and infection control policies. Assisting with patient care, i.e., positioning, prepping, etc. Maintaining correct count of instruments used during procedures. Providing customer service in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one full year of graduate education (18 semester hours or equivalent), or an internship in course matter with a major that included courses directly related to the work of the Health Technician position. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-7 level. You must have an equivalent combination of related graduate level education and specialized experience to meet the total experience requirement.

• Preferred Experience: 3-5 years operating room experience, Vascular, ortho, Neuro, and/or Level 2 trauma.

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/.

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/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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
• 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.
• 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.