Clarification from the agency

The first area of consideration will be given to current, permanent federal employees within VISN 10. The second area of consideration will be extended to current, permanent federal employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). To be eligible, your SF-50 must be dated within one year of the announcement closing date. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Major duties and responsibilities:

• Plans, leads, and manages large-scale projects and initiatives impacting multiple facilities or VISNs.
• Manages and supports medical equipment and clinical systems impacting multiple facilities either remotely or on-site.
• Provides guidance and mentorship to expand professional knowledge and enhance technical skillsets.
• Develops and administers training programs impacting multiple facilities or VISNs.
• Manages, responds to, and remediates hazard alerts, recall notifications, and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all actions in the appropriate system. Implements changes based on lessons learned.
• Develops, recommends, and implements strategic improvements across multiple facilities or VISNs.
• Maintains knowledge of and complies with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Develops, implements, and monitors policies and procedures impacting multiple facilities to ensure compliance with established standards and regulations.
• Analyzes emerging medical equipment and clinical systems, identifies trends, and effectively advises administrative, technical, and clinical staff at senior levels of the organization.
• Collaborates with leadership, clinical staff, administrative staff, and external organizations regarding the management of medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) as required/directed. Develops documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services. Manages, monitors, and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies.
• Develops technical specifications and standards for installation and support of medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on assigned committees, projects, and workgroups.
• Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Provides customer support to staff, evaluates issues and needs, responds with solutions, and keeps customers abreast of status.
• Maintains and enhances knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (Dayshift), hours dependent on needs of program.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 93497-0
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).
• 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education, Experience Requirement, or Certification. You must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field; OR
  • Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
  • Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; OR
  • Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
  • Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship, OR
  • Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
  • Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM). Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment.

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).

Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standards are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and assignment held including positive education and certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but they may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• 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 retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re- entry to the occupation.

Grade Determination. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-14.

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  1. Skill in communicating technical knowledge across multiple levels of an organization.
  2. Skill in analyzing data to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity.
  3. Skill in developing timely and economical solutions to technical issues affecting multiple sites of care.
  4. Skill in coordinating work across multiple sites of care such as ambulatory centers, medical centers, and health care networks.
  5. Skill in implementing policies pertaining to medical equipment and clinical systems.
  6. Skill in applying standards for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

Assignment. For all assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must be of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and range of variety, as described in this standard at the specific grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Employees in this assignment are non-supervisory and are found at the VISN or national HTM program office level and support medical equipment and clinical systems that span across a VISN or VHA. They provide mentorship, training, and technical and program support to HTM staff across VHA. BESSs develop and execute a VISN or national HTM training program, which includes identifying gaps, coordinating, and facilitating training, and identifying resources. They lead VISN or national large-scale projects and workgroups often involving cross-functional teams with multiple stakeholders. BESSs develop national or VISN policies, procedures, and guidance. They consult and partner with VISN leadership, VHA, VA program offices, and external organizations. BESSs identify and analyze systemic trends in medical equipment and clinical systems. BESSs recommend and oversee strategic remedial action that may impact multiple facilities or VISNs. They advise and support field HTM programs in resolution of technology issues and support facilities in the implementation of a HTM program that meets all applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

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-1601-14.

Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

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.