KEY REQUIREMENTS



• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.

As a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, Clinical Area Specialist you will be assigned to the Engineering Service. The general nature of duties involves all aspects of the technical support of the most complex biomedical instrumentation and electronic systems at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. These systems are identifiable by their complex, usually computerized electronics and by the need for technical support that extends well beyond maintenance and repair.  In addition, you will be considered the recognized specialist for the healthcare technology within their area of support, areas such as, but not limited to: psychological monitoring, radiology, laboratory and endoscopy. The work will include:

·         Serve as technical resource to less senior or experienced staff.

·         Understanding the details of assigned systems, how they are engineered, the principles of operation, what system limitations and capabilities exist, etc.

·         Assist engineering staff in systems installations, planning, site modification, utility accommodation, and system testing and acceptance.

·         Maintain, calibrate and troubleshoot complex systems and direct other technicians on performing these functions.

·         Assist users in the applications training aspects of the systems.

·         Evaluate systems.

·         Initiate systems upgrades, interfacing systems, and modify systems.

·         Implement the Biomedical Engineering program in an assigned area and all the responsibilities included with that.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

One (1) full year of specialized experience (equivalent at least to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service) that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience would include providing expertise in the planning, design, construction, testing documenting, modification, installation and maintenance and training of highly sophisticated biomedical instrumentation systems; utilizing knowledge of biomedical engineering maintenance programs, maintaining biomedical systems to manufacturer recommended specifications, tracking medical equipment hazard alerts and recalls, and maintaining equipment history files. Specialized experience would demonstrate the ability to independently maintain, analyze, trouble shoot and repair state-of-the-art biomedical equipment including highly sophisticated x-ray and nuclear medicine systems such as CT Scanners and gamma cameras, magnetic resonance imaging systems and other clinical equipment that are primarily computer electronic in function.

OR

EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION:

Possess a Ph.D. or an equivalent graduate degree or completed 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a PhD or LL.M, if related. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

OR

Possess a combination of education and specialized experience as described above. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.  Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.  Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

A transcript or course listing must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.  See Step 3 under "How to Apply" for a description of a course listing.  Applications submitted without this information may not be considered. 

To calculate the combination of education and experience, determine the amount of experience you have as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level.  Then determine the amount of education you have as a percentage of the education required for the grade level.  Only education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level is qualifying.  Add the two percentages; the total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify for the grade level.  

You will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs) as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: (DO NOT RESPOND TO THE KSAO’s – ONLY RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONAIRE ONLINE)

• Ability to independently perform the duties of a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist in a medical/hospital setting.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the theory and principles of operation of diverse medical devices.
• Ability to implement a Biomedical Engineering Program.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to demonstrate experience with computerized medical equipment, systems and network interfacing.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications .

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.  Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.  All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

*** 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. ***

Veteran's Preference:

When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.). Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability.

Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, non service-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed SF15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and required documentation with your application materials. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants will be ranked based on four quality groups, as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

After the vacancy announcement closes, reviewed applications are evaluated against the questionnaire responses and placed in the appropriate quality group.  Qualified veterans will be afforded preference by being placed at the top of the appropriate quality group.  Qualifying veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be placed at the top of the best qualified group.  The best qualified group is the first to be referred to the hiring facility for further consideration and possible interview.  The remaining groups may be referred based on the number of applicants available.

Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life.  For more information please visit us at http://www4.va.gov/jobs/job_benefits/benefits.asp.

OTHER INFORMATION:

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ctap" . 

VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application (See "Required Documents" section below).  The complete Application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Monday, October 24, 2011.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button at the bottom of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.  Be sure to upload the required documents before you submit your application.  Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.  Mailed/emailed applications will not be accepted.

Note: To change or update your application, simply reapply through My USAJOBS, before the closing date.  To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Login.aspx), select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire: View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the occupational questionnaire: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf .
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with all supporting documents to (478)757-3144.  Your 1203FX form must be placed on top of all materials being faxed and will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
4. Keep a copy of your fax receipt in case verification is needed.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:

1. Complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID: 544742.  You must use this fax cover sheet in order for your documents to be matched with your online application.
2. Fax your documents to (478)757-3144.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The following documents are required:

• Resume or Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612)
• Responses to the Occupational Questionnaire
• Veterans Preference documentation such as DD-214 or equivalent, SF-15, and VA Letter, as appropriate
• Unofficial college transcript if education is used to qualify (an official college transcript will be required before being hired.)
• Use this checklist to make sure you've submitted everything. You will not be contacted for additional information.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After the vacancy announcement closes and a referral certificate is issued, an electronic notification letter - or e-mail - will be sent to applicants who provide an e-mail address.  Otherwise, you will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service within 2 to 4 weeks.