Surgical Technician

USAJOBS - Job Announcement

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Summary

This job is open to U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Duties Requirements How you will be evaluated Required documents How to apply

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures.
• Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure, such as air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopic lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment.
• Plans and anticipates need for unique specialty equipment and instrumentation, hyperthermia equipment, and fracture tables.
• Assures the surgical team of functioning equipment and assures proper lighting.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups to facilitate the type of surgical procedure.
• Maintains the sterility of the environment and independently plans for easy access to emergency instruments and equipment.
• Scrubs on complex surgical procedures utilizing strict aseptic techniques.
• Assists in preparation, positioning, and draping of patients to facilitate safe surgical intervention.
• Observes 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.
• Proficient in handing instruments and equipment to the surgeon and anticipates the surgeons needs during the procedure.
• Recognizes non-verbal signals by the surgeon and responds quickly and appropriately.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.
• Handles all specimens appropriately.
• Observes the surgical site continuously, remaining attentive for potential adverse situations, emergencies, and breaks in sterile techniques fields.
• Performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy in conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse.
• Responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure.
• Reports correct or incorrect counts to the surgeon.
• Assumes joint responsibility with the surgeon for tissue specimens, culture, and hardware, assuring that critical specimen information is transmitted to the circulating nurse.
• 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, including the scrub role in surgical procedures.
• Independently recognizes and remedies errors in sterile technique.
• Provides guidance and support to other Surgical Technicians, professional, and technical students of an approved surgical technology program.

Requirements

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

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for Health Aid and Technician Series 0640

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.

In addition to the IOR, candidates must also meet one of the following requirements:

• 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.
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level, you must have one full year of graduate education with courses directly related to the work of the position to be filled.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

This is an open-continuous announcement until September 30, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 12/26 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until all approved positions have been filled.

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.

Required documents

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• DD-214 Statement of Service
• Disability Letter
• Schedule A
• Disability Letter
• VALicense
• Other 1PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice RIFSF-15
• SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on 09/30/26 to receive consideration.

To preview the questionnaire, click https://apply.usajobs.gov/ViewQuestionnaire12848631.1.

To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Kent McGregor Phone: 615-947-8891 Email: kent.mcgregor@va.gov Address: Lexington VA Health Care System, 2250 Leestown Road, Lexington, KY 40511, US

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate is issued, and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity EEO Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request