Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies and all U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Supervisory Biomedical Engineer provides management support and technical expertise to Chief Biomedical Engineering and the Clinical Engineering Section, Engineering Service. The primary duties of the position may include, but are not limited to:

• Assists in the areas of budgeting, developing, and effectively managing the Biomedical Engineering Program.
• Assists with the determination of organizational changes in key positions within the Clinical Engineering Section.
• Acts as a consultant to the Chief Biomedical Engineer and the Medical Center regarding Biomedical Engineering and related issues.
• Assists in drafting new policies and procedures to guide activities.
• Develops new innovative strategies to complete assignments as required.
• Develops new methods or proposes new policies as required for other professional engineers at the facility and/or professional engineers in the VISN.
• Develops long-rage plans for new and complex programs for the efficient and effective operation of the Clinical Engineering Section.
• Assists in the planning and/or accomplishes special projects; manages special projects for major office or program issues of broad impact.
• Conceives and implements new initiatives and projects to strengthen, facilitate, and integrate programs.
• Assists with management of a recall and safety alert program for equipment, including medical device incident investigations to ensure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and TJC requirements.
• Assists the Chief Biomedical Engineer in the coordination of purchase, planning, construction, installation, and in-service training stages of major Biomedical Engineering.
• Independently plans and carries out work to be done.
• Serves as a technical authority on Biomedical Engineering/Healthcare Technology Management.
• Assists with an equipment management program that meets current requirements from The Joint Commission (TJC) and NFPA, including planning, selection, consultation, installation, application, and maintenance.
• Works with the CAVHS Leadership, Service Chiefs, employees and their representatives, outside contracting agencies, engineers, architects, public sector department heads, engineers and managers at other VAMCs, VISN personnel, VACO personnel, national HTM & HEPG personnel, other federal agencies, members of academia and industry, and members of the private sector to obtain and relay information that is used to discuss work efforts of and relating to the VHA, VISN 16, and CAVHS.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm. Schedule subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 598-00336-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.
• 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).
• Possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license.
• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 part II, chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.
• Experience and/or Education: 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.

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: To qualify for the GS-13 level, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.

Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical), GS-13

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

(b) Assignment. 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.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs in your resume:

i. Knowledge of the management of overall department resources, i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, and staffing at the local level.
ii. Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare technology management.
iii. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
iv. 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.
v. 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Managing technology life cycles and the recall and alert program for medical devices.
• Directing the quality assurance program for clinical equipment, to include incoming inspection/acceptance testing, performance and safety testing, calibration, and maintenance and repair programs.
• Managing biomedical projects to support equipment installation, repair, and system upgrades to optimize clinical workflow and patient safety.
• Coordination of service agreements and in-house operations.
• Providing technical expertise during equipment procurement review processes.
• Creating and/or modifying policies and procedures to ensure compliance, interpretation of Technical specifications, standards, and guidelines according to Joint Commission, NFPA, CAP, FDA, SMDA, UL, OSHA, etc.
• Investigating medical device hazards and incidents.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

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

1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) employees including satellites
2nd Area of Consideration - All other VA Employees
3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent Federal employees of other agencies
4th Area of Consideration - All other applicants

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.