Summary Truman VA Medical Center is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans. Responsibilities This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: https:/www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/. This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) of the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO. The primary purpose of this position is to support the Sterile Processing staff. The duties include, but are not limited to: Conducts or assists with inventories of instruments, supplies, equipment, and prepping trays for all surgical procedures such as open heart, thoracic, major vascular, neurosurgery, microsurgery, and total joint replacement surgery. Receives, distributes, and accounts for supplies, equipment, materials, and services. Reviews requisitions and purchase requests checking for accuracy, completeness. Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling supplies, and equipment. Maintains cleanliness of SPS area. Maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials based on universal/standard procedures. Collects used reusable medical supplies, equipment and instrumentation from the wards and other areas of the Medical Center (cleans, sorts, decontaminates). Delivers required items to using activities based on established schedules or emergency request. Work Schedule: Varying hours and tours based on students schedule. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Student Trainee (Supply)/PD10165-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/21/2025. You may qualify based on your education as described below: Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: GS-1: At least be enrolled in a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) program. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Technical Competence 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. Physical Requirements: There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and prolonged stretching. Duties are performed in the Sterile Process which require special OR attire with regular and recurring exposure to chemicals such as: H202 sterilization, Hydrogen Peroxide and exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious, requiring special safety precautions. Appropriate scrub attire is required, including sterile gown and gloves, surgical caps to cover incumbent's hair and surgical mask. 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/. Education 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/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.