Surgical Technician

Summary

This position is located within the Surgical Service at the Long Beach VA Healthcare System. The incumbent is part of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other healthcare team members during surgical procedures and perioperative preparation of these procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team. Welcome to VA Long Beach Tibor Rubin - History

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Handle instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures including but not limited to: thoracic, major vascular, general, urology, plastics, ophthalmology and total joint replacement surgery. Set up the sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment, urologic equipment, recording deices, and other OR supplies and equipment. Plan and/or discuss each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Prepare, organize and maintain highly complex sterile surgical setups. Observe and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time. Utilize universal precautions and/or follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies and equipment. Assist team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies. Handle all specimens appropriately. Perform sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy. Account for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure. Prepare skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures. Prepare prostheses and surgical devices during procedures. Assist in training new residents, medical students, nursing students, OR technology students, and new OR staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical procedures. Perform non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions. Maintain OR area. Assess needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials. Recognize potentially hazardous situations (i.e., frayed cords, water on the floor) and takes corrective actions. Assist surgical team members in quality improvement activities. Update personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through continuing education courses Will be assigned to participate in the call schedule to support emergent and urgent cases occurring outside of routine hour Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday 0700-1530, 0900-1730, 1100-1930 (Based on the department needs) and taking calls is also an expectation with this position, in the situation an emergency surgery arise after hours. Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD12591A and PD06049A Requirements

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 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 dentification 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/13/2026. 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. Specialized experience includes: Utilizing knowledge of medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect sterile field during surgery; exercising sterile technique to include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life; handling medical instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures; performing proper cleaning techniques, as well as the proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies; handling contaminated items, quality control, and personal hygiene, using knowledge of universal precautions and implementing infection control policies and procedures. (must be in resume) Preferred Experience: One year in operating room or 6 months training as a Surgical Technician in a operating room. The incumbent serves as a primary surgical scrub person, supporting a broad range of complex operating-room procedures, including thoracic, vascular, general, urology, plastic, ophthalmology, total joint replacement, and other surgeries. This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR). You must meet the following: Possess technician experience that requires application of knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. (This position is part of the series that range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists.) In addition to meeting the IOR above, you must meet the experience/education as described below: GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade lever GS-05. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: setting up equipment for procedures; performing personal patient care; utilizing an automated system to maintain and retrieve patient data; assisting with patient test and procedures; and answering phones and directing phone calls to appropriate personal. OR Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the (1) year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended 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. OR, Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of the position. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-07. 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. 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 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 or instruments and supplies for the surgeon. 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/. VA Handbook 5005/53, Part II, Appendix G45

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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. 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. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Benefits

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. Other Information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.