Career Center

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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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-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: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level . Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must complete one full year of graduate education to meet the requirements for GS-7. Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. 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. ["Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment. Performs, plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery. Knowledge of sterile technique must include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging storage, and shelf life Knowledge of a wide variety of complex surgical procedures and possible complications to prepare for the procedure, to anticipate the needs of the surgical team, to respond with speed and accuracy, and to report observations and immediate procedural needs to the RN circulator. Knowledge of pathology care and handling of specimens correctly are essential for the prevention of damage to or loss of specimens and eventual diagnosis. During procedures in which implantable devices are used, incumbent must display knowledge and skill necessary for proper handling of prosthesis. Incumbent must possess knowledge of operation and function of all surgical instruments and equipment, testing procedures to assure all equipment works, and proper post-operative decontamination procedures. Must know how to prepare Instruments for V-Pro and steam sterilization. Incumbent must know appropriate method for instruments to be sterilized, including extremely costly endoscopy Instruments, and know how to operate the sterilizer machine Functions as a scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during complex ambulatory surgical procedures performed within all surgical sub-specialties for the Air Force Academy operations. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 7:00am -3:30pm\nPosition Description Title/PD#: Health Technician -Surgical Technician/ 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. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority in-accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and 5 CFR 337.205(b)(1)-(4)."]