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Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Columbia VA Health Care System

Summary

The incumbent serves as Chief of Healthcare Technology Management Service and is responsible for the Healthcare Technology Program at the Columbia VA Health Care System (CVAHCS). CVAHCS is currently a 1b complexity facility. The incumbent is vested with complete responsibility and authority to implement the Healthcare Technology Management program in a facility with a complexity equal to a tertiary care and/or university-affiliated facility.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/02/2026 to 04/09/2026
Salary
$125,776 - $163,514 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Columbia, SC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBTB-12923749-26-TM
Control number
863665900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. NOTE: Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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Duties

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Duties include, but not limited to:

The incumbent provides management support and technical expert consultation to Executive Leadership for all issues relative to the areas listed above. He/she has final decision-making authority, responsibility and accountability on issues affecting the Healthcare Technology Management Service.
The incumbent has full administrative and managerial responsibilities for planning, staffing, budgeting, developing, and effectively managing the total Healthcare Technology Management Program. Incumbent is knowledgeable of overall VISN and Medical Center goals, missions, and priorities to
assure a positive impact on other programs and resources.

The incumbent determines organizational changes in key positions within the Service; ensures internal personnel-related programs are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner; communicates agency and local policies and priorities to all employees within the Service; delegates to each section supervisor the authority and responsibility to carry out assigned tasks; follows progress of each and recommends improvement to be made where warranted; and ensures labor/management relations are maintained in accordance with Medical Center policy and procedures and that other requirements such as effective use of performance standards, EEO policies. and other personnel-related rules and regulations are effectively enforced.

Acts as a consultant to the Medical Center regarding Healthcare Technology Management. Incumbent uses leadership to draft new policies and procedures to guide activities. Incumbent develops new innovative strategies to complete assignments as required. Incumbent develops new methods or proposes new policies as required for other professional engineers at the facility and/or professional engineers in the VISN. He/she serves on standing committees of the facility as assigned by the Leadership team.

He/She develops long-range plans for new and complex programs; works with top management to develop long-range management plans, for the efficient and effective operation of Healthcare Technology Management Service; makes best use of present resources, plans for future needs and implementation of new resources; assists with the coordination of all requests for additional resources, working closely with others to pull together comprehensive short-range and long-range plans.

The incumbent plans 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. He/She undertakes or participates in special projects, ongoing analyses, investigations, and initiatives that have high priority for high-level management. This may involve producing complex analyses and written reports; organizing special committees, workshops, and other gatherings; initiating program reviews; and developing or fostering cross-agency activities.

Conducts an equipment management program that meets current requirements from The Joint Commission (TJC) and NFPA, including planning, selection, consultation, installation, application, and maintenance. Incumbent's work affects the wellbeing of all patients, employees, and visitors to the
Medical Center. The incumbent work also impacts the Medical Center's projects and programs involving Healthcare Technology Management.

Manages a recall and safety alert program for equipment, including medical device incident investigations to ensure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and TJC requirements. Takes a lead role in the coordination of purchase, planning, construction, installation, and in-service training stages of major Healthcare Technology Management. This coordination can span several years, when major or minor construction is involved.
Chairs the Technology Operations Oversight Board, which provides the Medical Center with guidance regarding Technology Purchases and acts as a resource for Technology related issues.

Incumbent implements national policies and uses knowledge required for the position to reduce broad and non-specific guidelines to practical application. Independent judgment, interpretation, ingenuity, and experience are necessary to adapt, expand, simplify or resolve conflicts between guidelines and existing conditions. The incumbent is a technical authority, capable of creating guidelines for use at the local, VISN and national level in the area of Healthcare Technology Management.

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need.
Telework: Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 53767F.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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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).
  • 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 chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
  • 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.
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment [listed in paragraph 3 above], the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

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 candidate 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.
Preferred Experience: None.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients.

See https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/OCHCO/SitePages/D5019.aspx VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Trena O. Melvin
Email
Trena.Melvin2@va.gov
Address
Columbia VA Health Care System
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
US

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