Surgical Technician

The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to 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 Chief of Surgery and Surgical team.

"This is an open continuous announcement. Qualified applicants will be reviewed every two weeks."

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

Major duties include but not limited to:

• Responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during a variety of surgical procedures performed in all surgical sub-specialties/procedures; includes general surgery, urological surgery, vascular surgery, ENT surgery, orthopedic/podiatry surgery and ophthalmological surgery.
• Sets-up sterile field with required items for each procedure.
• Participates in official time out with surgical team and ensures correct site, correct procedure, correct laterality, correct patient, position, and all testing results are in place; verifies sterility and dates of implants per Veterans' Health Administration (VHA) Directive.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
• Observes and responds promptly to each state of surgical procedure and anticipates needs of the surgeon.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures.
• Assists team members with care of the patient.
• Handles all specimens appropriately.

Training

• Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, operating room technology students and new Operating Room (OR) staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures.

Other OR/Surgical Duties

• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment.
• Maintains safe/clean work environment.
• Provides patient information to Registered Nurse (RN)/Anesthesia Team for inclusion in patient's plan of care; supports healthcare team through reinforcement of patient education; organizes/prioritizes patient care activities.
• Assists in answering telephones and relaying messages.
• Adheres to Veterans' Administration (VA) nursing policies, procedures, and standards; delivers care to patients in respectful, non-judgmental manner; maintains patient privacy/confidentiality; sets limits within the surgical team (ST)/patient relationship.
• Recognizes changes in patient condition including emergencies, perioperatively and takes appropriate actions in response to patient emergent situation.
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations e.g. frayed cords, water on floor, and takes corrective action.
• Reports unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm (includes an on-call status and some weekends and holidays)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD12902A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Duties regularly require manual assistance in lifting, and positioning patients, most of which are in 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. Duties are performed in the operating rooms (ORs) which require special OR attire with regular and recurring exposure to toxic and noxious gases such as methylmethracrylate, peroxyacetic acid, exposure to x-rays, exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious, and laser beams requiring special safety precautions.

Appropriate scrub attire is required to provide an aseptic environment. The incumbent is often required to wear protective attire such as eye wear, hoods during total joint replacements, appropriate laser glasses when working with lasers and must frequently wear a lead apron as protection from radiation during various procedures.

The operating room can be an exceptionally stressful work environment. Good mental and emotional health is required to function at an optimum level.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/17/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). This position has a minimum qualification entry requirement: 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 requires application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

AND,

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level GS-6 that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics in or related to the work of this position. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Knowledge related to preparation of sterile surgical fields for procedures; handling instruments, supplies, and equipment; setting up surgical cases and assisting surgeon during case.

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 (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

OR,

Combination: You must have a combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position. Equivalent combination of successfully completed some graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Preferred Experience: Completion of a Surgical Technologist program preferred but not mandatory.

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
• 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.