Summary

The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the Iowa City VA Health Care Surgical Team and and is under the direct supervision of the Clinical Manager of the Operating Room. The Surgical Technician provides assistance to 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/30/2026. Opening Date: April 13 - 2026 Closing Date: June 30 - 2026 First Cut-Off Date: April 27 - 2026 NOTE: This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Qualified candidates will be referred as vacancies occur. Eligible applications received after April 27 - 2026 will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Final application disposition will be completed at the end of the open period stated in the announcement. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-4 Qualification(s): Specialized Experience: At least six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience. General experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position - or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area (anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc.) of the occupation. Specialized experience is 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: sterilizing required items for procedures; utilizing medical terminology in order to communicate with health care providers and team members and follow instructions; assisting team members during surgical procedures. OR - Education (Transcript Required): Successfully completed 2 years of study above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects that include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc. OR - Combination (Transcript Required): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education above high school (beyond 1 year) and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. GS-5 Qualification(s): Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 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: assisting with the preparation and protection of sterile fields during surgery; reviewing and testing instruments and equipment prior to procedures to ensure equipment works; handling medical instruments - supplies and equipment during surgical procedures; assisting team members with care of the patient - i.e. - positioning - prepping - and transportation to and from the Operating Room. OR - Education (Transcript Required): Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree - with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc. OR - Combination (Transcript Required): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. GS-6 Qualification(s): Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 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: assisting with the preparation and protection of sterile fields during surgery; monitoring and maintaining aseptic techniques throughout surgical procedures; handling medical instruments - supplies and equipment during 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; assisting team members with care of the patient - i.e. - positioning - prepping - and transportation to and from the Operating Room. OR - Education (Transcript Required): Successfully completed one-half year of graduate education (9 semester hours) in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc. OR - Combination (Transcript Required): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total experience requirements for this grade 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/. Physical Demands: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients - most of which are in 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. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. 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 methyl methacrylate - formalin - exposure to x-rays - exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious - and laser beams requiring special safety precautions. Appropriate scrub attire is required to provide an aseptic environment - including sterile gown and gloves - surgical caps to cover hair - and surgical mask. The incumbent is often required to wear protective attire such as eye wear - googles or face shields to prevent inadvertent splash injuries to eyes - hoods during total joint replacements - appropriate laser glasses when working with lasers and must frequently wear a lead apron as protection from radiation during various procedures. The operating room can be an exceptionally stressful work environment. Good mental and emotional health is required to function at an optimum level.

Duties

• The Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) consists of a comprehensive Tertiary Care Level I VA Health Care System
• eleven VA Clinics and two Homeless Veterans Outreach Centers and has an affiliate agreement with the top ranked University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
• ICVAHCS is home to the Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) - one of the largest research departments in the VA
• CADRE is an energetic and upbeat organization with 18 core investigators - 29 affiliate or associate investigators - 3 Career Development Awardees - 5 VA Quality Scholars - over 50 research personnel - and over 40 funded projects
• https://www.va.gov/iowa-city-health-care/about-us/ NEW GRADS ARE WELCOME TO APPLY! Please see the qualifications section for educational requirements
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical team to ensure all supplies and equipment are available prior to surgical procedures
• Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies and equipment
• Prepares - organizes and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups
• Provides guidance and support to professional staff during surgical procedures
• Understands the proper procedure and safety precautions for disinfecting surgical instruments
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations and takes corrective action
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am - 3:30pm - plus call Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician --Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized--/PD50535A - PD50469A - and PD50470A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.