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VISN 12 is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity, provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion, and supports inclusiveness in our culture. Together, we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork, and are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans.

This position is located in the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program at the VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Incumbent serves as a senior staff biomedical engineer at the facility. Coordinates and directs the work of technicians and interns assigned to the Biomedical Engineering Program. Provides technical training, leadership, and guidance to lower graded biomedical engineering technicians and interns in the performance of BME functions.

Major Duties:

• Responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, installing/implementing Medical Equipment capital assets.
• Responsible for creation and modification of all policies and procedures for medical equipment that meet or exceed Joint Commission, NFPA, FDA, SMDA or VA standards, including annual reviews, performance improvement, and implementation.
• Responsible for new equipment purchasing including planning, budgeting, prioritizing, evaluating, and implementing/installing new equipment. Applies advanced theories, principles, concepts and practices of Biomedical Engineering to keep abreast of changes in technology and utilize that information to meet operational needs.
• Manages the recall and safety alerts for medical devices. Investigates incidents to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA and Joint Commission requirements.
• Investigates situations or phenomena which have or may affect or compromise efficacy of medical services.
• Directs quality assurance program for medical equipment which includes incoming inspection and acceptance testing, performance and safety testing, calibration, and maintenance and repair programs.
• Serves as a consultant and technical expert to medial staff and medical center management in all areas relating to complex and specialized medical equipment.
• Prepare project planning and pre-procurement documentation for medical equipment.

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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 02/24/2023.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education and/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). Examples of acceptable engineering degrees include: Biomedical, Clinical, Biomechanical, Electrical, Mechanical, or Biochemical Engineering or Bioengineering. OR Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed above.

• Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Education:
  • CCE certification with at least a bachelor's degree in a field not listed above.
  • OR
  • Bachelor's degree as outlined above.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment: Employees serve in an entry level biomedical engineer career development position. It is expected that biomedical engineers at the entry level receive ongoing guidance from more experienced staff members and perform assignments under close supervision.

• Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07).
• OR
• Education:
  • Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study as outlined above.
  • OR
  • Bachelor's degree, as outlined above, plus two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  1. Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the Biomedical Engineering profession.
  2. Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards, and make recommendations to ensure compliance with medical center programs.
  3. Ability to understand the operational needs of clinical services in the health care system.
  4. Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends, for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management, and the ability to keep abreast of changes in technology.
• Assignment: Employees complete technical assignments in the engineering field, under the direction of a senior biomedical engineer and will be required to rotate through, and participate in, the operations of other hospital services.

• Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS-09).
• OR
• Education:
  • Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of engineering as outlined above.
  • OR
  • Bachelor's degree, plus three full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study as outlined above.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  1. Ability to implement and/or sustain an equipment management or biomedical research program that meets The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or other applicable regulatory requirements.
  2. Ability to develop material for a continuing education program for clinical or research staff, that address the principles and application of medical technology, and/or biomedical theory used in healthcare.
  3. Ability to advise staff on emerging medical technology, or research procedures], while keeping abreast of changes in such technology, and utilizing the information to solve biomedical engineering problems.
  4. Knowledge of basic project management principles, as applied to the healthcare setting and medical equipment, and information system implementation.
• Assignment: At the developmental level, biomedical engineers participate in medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA), TJC requirements, and assist in the development of an equipment management program at the medical center. Employees may lead medical technology deployments, directly support medical equipment, or participate in research projects.

• Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, OR Completion of a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of biomedical engineering.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  1. Ability to conduct a medical equipment management [or biomedical research program that is compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies.]
  2. Ability to develop a curriculum for a continuing education program, that address the safe and effective use of medical technology, and/or research devices.
  3. Ability to manage a recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and [TJC] requirements.
  4. Ability to conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment.
  5. Ability to function as the subject matter expert in the field of biomedical engineering, directly supporting specialized clinical technology, including service, system administration, training, quality assurance, and life-cycle management.
  6. Ability to effectively advise clinical and administrative staff on medical technology, including existing and emerging technology, which addresses viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety.
  7. Knowledge of concepts related to computer based medical systems, networking protocols, and information security as it applies to medical technology within VHA.
  8. Skill in communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization.
  9. Ability to apply project management principles to deployment of medical equipment and health information technologies.
• Assignment: At the full performance level, employees work under general supervision, with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment. Drawing upon extended professional and technical experience, employees demonstrate an intimate understanding of complex clinical and biomedical subject matter. They serve as institutional resources, working extensively with clinical stakeholders, supporting clinical services by leading market research, technology assessments, integration planning, and implementation of both current and emerging medical technologies.

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.

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.