Summary

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/07/2025. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: comprehensive knowledge of surgical procedures - instrumentation - and sterile technique - including sterilizer operations - packing - storage - and infection control protocols. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to anticipate the needs of the surgical team - respond quickly and accurately during procedures - and recognize and manage emergency conditions. Proficiency in handling surgical specimens - including proper collection - labeling - and preservation for diagnostic purposes - is required. The ability to prepare and manage implantable devices such as prosthetic joints - pacemakers - and vascular grafts is also necessary. Experience in reprocessing reusable medical equipment - ensuring compliance with manufacturer guidelines - and following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is expected. The applicant must exhibit strong knowledge of patient positioning - assist anesthesia providers as needed - and maintain a working understanding of medical terminology and pharmacology relevant to the sterile field. Effective communication skills are required to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams - provide instruction when needed - and ensure the highest level of patient care.. 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 year of graduate education (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 Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-07 level. Must have an equivalent combination of related graduate level education and specialized experience to meet the total experience requirement. To calculate - first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting - you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-07. For example - an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Infection Control Medical Information Patient Care 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. 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. 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/.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Answering and directing phone calls
• Maintaining files and records
• Performing reception duties by assisting visitors to the office
• Using a computer to perform administrative duties
• Providing training to new personnel on clinical and administrative duties
• Performing simple treatment procedures such as changing sterile dressings and applying slings or bandages
• Using techniques to appropriately de-escalate disruptive patients
• Instructing patients and families the requirements of home self-care for injuries or ailments
• Observing patients and reporting changes in condition (deviation in color - pulse - respiration - temperature - and blood pressure)
• Positioning and draping patients
• Interviewing patients to document complaint - medical history - and personnel information
• Taking and recording vital signs
• Documenting electronic patient medical records
• Scheduling patient appointments - tests - and procedures
• Performing blood glucose testing
• Setting up patient examination rooms while adhering to infection control procedures
• Collecting - labeling - and packaging specimens such as blood and urine
• Performing electrocardiograms (EKGs)
• This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration - at the Atlanta VA Health Care System in Nursing Service
• The Surgical Technician is a member for 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 surgical team
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD06720A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized