Summary

The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the Surgical Specialty Operating Room surgical team. The Surgical Technician aids the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The ST participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the supervision of the surgical team.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 05/06/2026. Health Aid and Technician-0640 Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience-GS 4 and above: 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 OPM Individual Occupational Requirements you must meet the specialized experience for the GS-7 below: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled - in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Prepare operating rooms by setting up surgical instruments - supplies and equipment - Assist surgeons during procedures by passing instruments and other sterile supplies - Handle specimens and label them accurately - Count sponges - needles - and instruments to ensure nothing is left in the patient - Maintain a sterile environment throughout the procedure - knowledge of surgical procedures - terminology - and sterilization techniques - Work primarily in the operating room environment. OR - Education: You must have successfully completed one full year of graduate education (18 semester hours or equivalent) - or an internship in course matter with a major that included courses directly related to the work of the Health Technician position. OR Combination: You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. Preferred Experience: 3-5 years of recent scrubbing experience - certification preferred. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients - most of who are at 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 or aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon. Work Environment: Duties are performed in the operating rooms which require special OR attire with regular and recurring exposure to toxic and noxious gases such as: methylmethracrylate - glutaraldehyde - exposure to x-rays and pure oxygen exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious and laser beams requiring special safety precautions. Appropriate scrub attire is required - including sterile gown and gloves - surgical caps to cover incumbents hair - surgical mask or special attire such as a space helmet or hood used during total join replacements in order to maintain an aseptic environment. Incumbent must wear protective eyewear such as goggles or face shield to prevent inadvertent splash injuries to his or her eyes. Appropriate laser glasses must be worn when working with lasers. Incumbent must frequently wear a 20-30 pound lead apron as protection from radiation during various procedures. Required personal protective equipment is provided by the facility. The operating room work environment is complex intense and fast paced. Good mental and emotional health is required in order to function at optimum level. 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

• Some Duties are but not limited too: Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and complex equipment during all surgical procedures
• Sets up sterile field and maintains working knowledge of all required items used for each procedure such as disposable and non disposable surgical instrumentation
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure
• Prepares - organizes - and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups
• 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
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens - supplies - and equipment
• Assist the team members with care of the patient - i.e. - positioning - prepping - sterile draping - and ensuring patient safety via participation in surgical time out processes
• Responsible for ensuring sterility is maintained during the procedure by monitoring for breaches in technique of the surgical team members and/or the sterile field
• Handles all specimens appropriately
• In conjunction with the circulating registered nurse (RN) - performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy
• Responsible for the accountability for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure
• Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts - suctioning - holding retractors - applying skin staples - and cutting sutures
• Prepares prosthesis and surgical devices during procedure
• 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 - or OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical procedures
• Functions as second circulator for complex surgical procedures
• Provides transportation of patients to and from the Operating Room - as assigned
• Accounts for the availability of correct prosthetics in the room - follows established procedures regarding prosthetic tracking
• Follows correct site surgery policies
• Assists in the implementation and utilization of the Generic inventory Package to maintain adequate surgical supplies
• Monitors daily surgery schedules - provides input into case scheduling duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 11:00am - 7:30pm - Monday - Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD512-26004-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized