Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Please be advised this vacancy is opened to Current and Permanent VA Employees.

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Duties of the Chief Biomedical Engineer (CBE) include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Administers the standardized VISN medical equipment management plan to ensure the facility meets current TJC and NFPA requirements. The breadth of technology is typical of a tertiary care and university-affiliated institution.
• 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.
• Manages a recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device incident investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and TJC requirements.
• 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 the VISN Biomedical Engineering Office with technology management and assessment.
• 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.
• 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.
• Responsible for managing and execution of a complex, professional, highly technical, Biomedical Engineering program.
• Exercises authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of the Biomedical Engineering program, including: development of the service, assignment of duties, and pursuit of higher-level administrative approval of goals and objectives for supervisors or managers of subordinate levels.
• Approves multiyear and long-range plans developed by the supervisors of subordinate levels and subsequently manages the overall work to ensure achievement of those goals and objectives.
• Responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, and evaluating this program at each facility and its outpatient clinics, initiating, modifying, and setting policies, procedures, standards, and goals in accordance with VISN Biomedical Engineering Office defined standards.
• Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of the employees.
• Evaluates work performance of subordinates.
• Interviews candidates for positions and makes selections.
• Identifies developmental and training needs of employees and provides or arranges training opportunities.
• Exercises significant responsibility in dealing with officials of other units or organizations, or in advising management officials of higher rank, including physicians and clinical staff, relating to technical matter.
• Makes decisions regarding non-routine, costly and controversial training needs and training requests related to employees of the unit, approves expenses comparable to within grade increases, extensive overtime, and employee travel, recommends awards or bonuses for non-supervisory personnel and changes position classifications subject to approval by higher level officials.
• Establishes the phasing sequence for installations, ensuring that the necessary construction projects are completed and that equipment installation can proceed with minimal disruption of essential services and inconvenience to patients and staff.
• Provides technical biomedical engineering consultation support for VISN 9. Often contacted by other Biomedical Engineers, regarding complex repair problems, parts acquisition, patient and device electrical safety problems, instrumentation support requirements, program management, equipment system design, and accreditation requirements of TJO and CAP.
• May make site visits to evaluate other Biomedical Engineering programs or to investigate specific problems.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday | 7:30am - 4:00pm
Travel Requirement: Yes, 25% or less
Telework: Yes, AdHoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 31315-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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: 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~

• Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed in above.

• Physical Requirements. Work demands of the position include walking, bending, and climbing in order to inspect medical equipment installations. These are occasional requirements to lift instrumentation weighing between 20 and 40 pounds. Sixty percent of the incumbent's work is performed in an office setting and forty percent in construction areas, patient wards, and patient diagnostic testing and treatment areas.
• English Language Proficiency. Biomedical engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE). Certification means having successfully passed a CCE written and oral examination administered by the American College of Clinical Engineering. Individuals with CCE certification demonstrate competency and professional recognition, as measured by an examination designed by their peers. Certification promotes healthcare delivery improvement through the continuing assessment and recognition of the competency of professionals. These professionals support and advance patient care by applying engineering and management skills to healthcare technology. 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.

References: GS-14 References: VA Handbook 5005/104, Part II Appendix G38, dated March 25, 2019

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

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14

Physical Requirements: Requires some heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds and over; walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, and some climbing. Also requires suitable near and far vision, depth perception, and ability to distinguish colors. Requires ability to hear (hearing aids permitted.)

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.