Surgical Technician

Summary

Surgical Technician is an integral member of the surgical team and provide assistance to surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures ranging from local anesthesia cases (biopsies and excision) to vascular and micro-vascular surgery; including ear - hand. facial - and vascular reconstruction. Must be prepared to adapt to new procedures in a changing surgical environment participating with surgical team planning and implementing complex procedures under supervision of surgical team.

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/30/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Applicants must meet the Individual Occupation Requirement and Specialized Experience/Education. Each of these items are separate requirements. 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to:
Working in an operating room - assisting surgeons during medical procedures - setting up a sterile field with all required items for surgical procedures (i.e.

- air-powered equipment - fiber optic equipment - laparoscopic equipment - microscopes - lasers - arthroscopy equipment - urologic equipment - recording devices and other operating room (OR) supplies and equipment - etc.);
Handling highly technical medical instruments during surgery;
Using human anatomy - physiology and aseptic technique;
Handling specimens correctly;
Prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery;
Work with complex surgical procedures and possible complications;
Report observations and immediate procedural needs;
Recognize emergent complications;
Operate the sterilization machine and use of proper cleaning/sterile technique for high level disinfecting of instruments;
Proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies and handling of contaminated items - quality control and personal hygiene;
Implement infection control procedures;
Store instruments and supplies properly to maintain sterility. OR
- 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. OPM Qual standard for 0640 - See the NOTE under the Education section.

NOTE:

Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study.

If that information cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR - Combination:
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate education or beyond. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at…