Clarification from the agency

Open to Current, Permanent Employees of VISN 19 Supply Chain Management Service Only.

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Program Involvement and Management

The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer reports directly to the VISN Chief Healthcare Technology Manager. He/she receives administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions and functions. He/she exercises authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of assigned activities. He/She has responsibility for budgeting, planning, designing, and implementing projects and other work to support
healthcare technology across the VISN. Successful execution of these responsibilities has major impact upon the outcome of patient care delivery.

The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer is recognized as the senior technology expert and project manager in one or more clinical technology, Biomedical Engineering program aspect, and/or VISN process areas. He/she serves an advisor to senior clinical and leadership staff on medical engineering technology, addressing viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety for strategic initiatives. He/she will collaborate extensively with Facility
Department/Section Chief (HTM and other), VISN and VA/VHA Program Manager such as the Chief Supply Chain Officer, Capital Asset Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Network Contract Office 19, VA OIT and others in order to manage technical and administrative aspects of the programs.

The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer serves on and as an advisor/member to relevant VISN workgroups commissioned by the Healthcare Technology Management Office on the scope of medical technology, infrastructure and/or security. He/She serves as a member on relevant VISN/Facility workgroups, on which he/she represents VISN 19 HTM and collaborates with other workgroup members to provide guidance, solutions, policies,
and education on medical device technology and infrastructure to the field. He/she utilizes and/or develop data analytic tool to support HTM decision making and performance monitoring. Performance monitor include but not limited to: MDNS, RECALL, NMDD KPI, High Tech High Cost deployment,
HTM Cerner Readiness, and Unsupported OS Planning.

Technical Expertise

The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer is recognized as a senior technical expert and advisor on Biomedical Engineering Clinical System integration issues and aids in the support provided by Biomedical Engineering staff across the VISN. He/she is responsible for managing VISN BME, who is aiding the clinical staff in selection/planning, implementation/deployment, and effective utilization of medical equipment. The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer advises the VISN Chief HTM and Leadership in the areas of high-cost and/or high-volume medical technology, the networking of medical technology, a wide array of general healthcare technology, and specific healthcare technology challenges and innovation.

i. Healthcare Technology Assessment, Acquisition, and Implementation - The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer leads a team of BME in technology assessment of medical equipment systems by working collaboratively with clinical staff to evaluate market offerings, determine VISN requirements, design system configurations, and develop specifications. These technology assessments are often extremely complex and stakeholder intensive. He/She ensures network clinical systems have capability to integrate with VHA Electronic Health Record (EHR).

ii. HTM Scope of Service Equipment Management - The VISN 19 HTM has direct impact on all clinical services provided in the VISN. The program must ensure the provision of safe, reliably maintained, and clinically appropriate medical/clinical equipment for the delivery of quality healthcare in a cost-effective manner.

iii. Specific Technology Leadership and Recurring Technical Support - The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer serves an institutional expert in one or more technology areas for the VISN. Example technologies where the incumbent coordinates technical support activities across the VISN include EHR, Radiology PACS and Informatics, Cardiology PACS and Informatics, Critical Care Clinical Charting (CIS), Anesthesia Record Keeping Systems, Laboratory Informatics, Pharmacy Informatics, Data Analytics Systems, and other clinical informatics systems.

iv. Biomedical Engineering Technology Projects and Methods - The Supervisor Biomedical Engineer is responsible for establishing consistent methodologies, protocols, and procedures across VISN 19 in Biomedical Engineering.

v. Patient Safety - The Biomedical Engineer contributes to VHA, VISN, and facility patient safety goals.

Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 4:pm
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55750-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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.
• 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.
• Must Provide latest Non-Award SF50 to support eligibility, failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Qualifications

Must Provide latest Non-Award SF50 to support eligibility, failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education and/or Experience. [The individual must meet either item (1) or (2) below to meet this requirement: (1) 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. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time. OR, (2) Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed in item 3.b.(1) above.]
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
• English Language Proficiency. Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical), GS-14

Experience. Completion of at least [one] year of experience equivalent to the next lower level, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the biomedical engineer (clinical) must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• i. 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.
• ii. Ability to develop local or VISN policies and/or draft directives related to healthcare technology management.
• iii. Skill in balancing multiple responsibilities, setting priorities, delegating tasks and projects, meeting multiple deadlines, analyzing organizational problems, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
• iv. 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.
• v. 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.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. 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. OR, At the VISN level, the supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) is responsible for oversight and coordination of facility biomedical engineering programs, and will serve as the primary liaison between the HTM Program Office and the VISN and facilities. The supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) must have notable ongoing responsibilities, as assigned by the HTM Program Office. The supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) is responsible for compliance and reporting of medical device security and isolation for facilities under their management oversight. OR, At the national level, the supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) is assigned responsibility for specific program areas within the HTM Program Office.

Preferred Experience: Has working experience with Clinical Informatics System to include application such as PACS, GI, PFT, CIS, ARK, Sleeplab, Lab, Pharmacy, etc. Has working experience with MEMP including knowledge such as: TJC, NFPA, Recall, etc. Has working experience with MDPP with knowledge such as: VHA ERA, server infrastructure, vulnerability, MDIA, and NMDD inventory. Has working experience as VHA COR and/or Project Management to deploy healthcare technology system. Has working experience as supervisor and/or lead.

References: VA Handbook 5005/104, Part II, Appendix G38

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12.

Physical Requirements: Position is sedentary in nature.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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