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The Supervisory Biomedical Engineer has complete program responsibility of a division within Healthcare Technology Management (HTM). The SBME provides engineering review and guidance for the HTM program of the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). This program encompasses the Medical Devices Protection Program (MDPP), life cycle management, high-cost high tech equipment, professional engineering consulting with the medical staff in all areas involving medical instrumentation: in-house services for calibration, repair and safety of all medical instrumentation and assurance of meeting guidelines set by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and other code-setting agencies regarding overall maintenance and safety of medical instrumentation. The incumbent must keep abreast of all requirements in this field and, in particular, recent legal actions, to ensure compliance. The incumbent also gives critical support to the HTM program by interacting with professional and medical staff. The incumbent is a member of numerous committees dealing with issue's touching upon medical equipment and processes.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• The incumbent is responsible for providing professional engineering direction to comply with legislative and accrediting requirements at the medical center. The requirements include federal (e.g., OSHA, EPA, FDA, NFPA), state and local authorities having specific jurisdiction concerning protection and quality of life and environment, as well as accrediting bodies (e.g., TJC, CAP). The incumbent develops policies and procedures to comply with these frequently conflicting requirements while minimizing adverse impact to patient care.
• In the performance of official duties, the incumbent has regular access to printed and electronic files containing information that must be protected under the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws and regulations. The incumbent must ensure entry into the personal computer/computer systems under his/her access and verify code is limited to his/her use only. Entry and extraction of information from these systems are to be strictly limited to legitimate job-related duties.
• Office of Workers' Compensation (OWCP): Responsible for ensuring that working conditions and work practices within the section are such that the possibility of on-the-job injuries are minimized (i.e., safety training, worksite inspections, etc.). Immediately abates unsafe working conditions or work practices that pose an "imminent danger" until such time it is determined that such a danger no longer exists or appropriate safeguards are implemented. Ensures that all employees within the section are knowledgeable of, and adhere to, policies and procedures set forth in Memorandum No. 05-14 (i.e., reporting instructions, responsibilities, etc.) and in Article 24 of VA-AFGE Master Agreement as they relate to work-related injuries and illnesses.
• Equal Employment Opportunity: Responsible for supporting the EEO program and assuring that with his/her area of supervision all placement actions, communications, training, and development opportunities for improved employee utilization and other employment matters are equitably applied and based on qualifications and merit. Attempts informally to resolve discrimination complaints. Ensures that all employees within the section are knowledgeable of the EEO program as set forth in tin VASDHS policy and union agreements. Keeps supervisors informed in a timely fashion of potential discrimination complaints. F. Actively promotes the viability of VASDHS by supporting strategic planning, working with executive administrative staff and Engineering management to plan, implement, and design solutions to needs.

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

• 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 above.
• 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:
  • Such employees in an occupation that does not require a certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

• 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 candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of the management of overall department resources, i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, and staffing at the local level.
  • Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare technology management.
  • Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
  • Ability to analyze 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.
  • Skill in interpersonal relationships in leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers, both 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 level. The supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) is responsible for the professional and administrative management of a facility biomedical engineering program. Such individuals have responsibility supervising technical staff, including lower level engineers, biomedical engineering technicians, and other staff. The range of supervisory responsibility includes development of performance standards and performance evaluations; recommendations for appointments, awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing training needs etc. The supervisory biomedical engineer (clinical) is responsible for financial management of budget resources allocated to support quality assurance and maintenance activities necessary to assure the facility's medical equipment 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.

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, resume, 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.