Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent VA employees.

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MAJOR DUTIES:

The Chief Biomedical Engineer supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare technology as demonstrated by the following major responsibilities:

a. Conducts an equipment management program that meets current JCAHO and NFPA requirements. The breadth of technology is typical of a tertiary care and university-affiliated institution. Evaluates other programs in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN).

b. Assures provision of a continuing education program for professional staff addressing the principles and application of medical instrumentation used in the delivery of healthcare. This includes a curriculum that addresses the safe and effective use of medical equipment and/or technology. Provides continuing education beyond the facility including the VISN and/or the national program office or teaches at a higher learning institution.

c. Manages a recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device incident investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and JCAHO requirements. Analyzes recall and safety alert programs for other medical centers and/or conducts medical equipment investigations for the VISN or national program office.

d. Serves as advisor to senior clinical and leadership staff on medical technology, including existing and emerging technology, addressing viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety. Serves as technology advisor to assist VISN with technology management and assessment.

e. Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment. Participates at the VISN and/or national level with capital asset planning. Analyzes organizational and operational problems and develops timely and economical solutions to meet facility, VISN, and/or national needs.

f. Serves as institutional expert who directly supports the most complex and specialized clinical technology including service, system administration, training, and quality assurance for multiple sites.

g. Responsible for the operational budget; Responsible for financial management of budget resources allocated to support quality assurance and maintenance activities necessary to assure the facility medical equipment inventory is safe and available for patient care activities.

h. Supervises the Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists, staff Biomedical Engineers, Biomedical Engineer Trainees, and Coop and work study students.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Adhoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 607-00088-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact Jamie.Watson1@va.gov or Annmarie.Schneider@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• CITIZENSHIP: U.S Citizenship is required.
• ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Biomedical engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education or Experience:
  • Bachelor's Degree or Higher in Engineering. To be creditable, the curriculum must be from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering degrees include: Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biochemical Engineering.
  • OR,
  • Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a Bachelor's Degree not listed above. Certification means having successfully passed a CCE written and oral examination administered by the American College of Clinical Engineering. If appointed with a CCE requirement, the employee must maintain certification throughout employment. The American College of Clinical Engineering determines acceptable educational preparation and degree requirements for CCE eligibility.
• c. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education, and/or certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended, or be reappointed on a temporary, or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If an employee, who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision, leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status, and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

GS-14 GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
GS-14 Experience. Do you possess at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower-level GS-13: At this level, employees are supervisors and are at the facility, VISN, or National Program Office level. The supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) is assigned overall biomedical engineering program management responsibility typically found at a university affiliated tertiary care facility (complexity level 1,) with one or more subordinate biomedical engineers. In this assignment, supervisory biomedical engineers at the facility level will have notable ongoing responsibilities, supporting VISN biomedical engineering initiatives, and/or notable ongoing responsibilities as assigned by the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Program Office. The range of supervisory responsibility includes development of performance standards and performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment; awards; advancements; and when appropriate, disciplinary actions and identification of continuing training needs, etc. At this level, the supervisor is responsible for the financial management of budget resources allocated to support quality assurance and maintenance/management activities necessary to assure the facility medical equipment inventory is available for patient care activities. The supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) is responsible for compliance and reporting of medical device, cyber security, and isolation for facilities under their management oversight.
In addition, you must be able to demonstrate the following professional KSAs:
1. Ability to manage overall department resources, i.e., finance, space, equipment, supplies, and staffing at a highly complex medical center or at the VISN level.
2. Ability to develop local or VISN policies and/or draft directives related to healthcare technology management.
3. Skill in balancing multiple responsibilities, setting priorities, delegating tasks and projects, meeting multiple deadlines, analyzing organizational problems, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
4. Ability to analyze complex organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations, and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the area of responsibility.
5. Skill in interpersonal relationships leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers, within and outside the biomedical engineering program, to include conflict management, dispute resolution, mediation, or reasonable accommodations.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II Appendix G38. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.The full performance level of this series is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although there may be climbing, walking, bending, crawling, or stooping involved in activities such as investigating problems, or indoor/outdoor site visits.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.