Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This position is open to current, permanent VHA employees ONLY.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

• The HTM Chief reports directly to the Associate Director. He/she receives administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions or functions.
• 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.
• The HTM Chief has full administrative, managerial, and supervisory responsibilities for the Medical Center HTM program. He/she is fully responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, and evaluating this program at each facility and its outpatient clinics.
• Responsible for the full range of personnel actions and organization design proposals recommended by subordinate supervisors.
• Performs as the HTM service line Chief/Supervisor, leading the NAVAHCS HTM service line, which consists of Biomedical Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Support Specialist, and administrative staff. The HTM service line also typically incudes VHA HTM Program Office Biomedical Engineer Interns, VISN 22 Biomedical Engineers Trainees, and University of Connecticut Biomedical Engineer Masters Students.
• Serves as a staff advisor to the VISN 22 HTM Chief in Biomedical Engineering as well as engineering principles and practices, which relate to the area of specialization and scientific discipline, drawing from professional educational background, as well as practical experience.
• Monitors daily activities related to medical equipment and clinical systems. This includes assuring electronic studies reach the archive location, and that they are correctly represented.
• Maintains communications with vendors and other sources to ensure that working technical knowledge is always current. Keeps abreast of medical equipment/clinical systems developments throughout the VA technology community as well as current developments in medical imaging systems and database management systems.
• Coordinates and sets priority for special requests from various programs/divisions. Supports the tele-health program and solves problems or issues.
• Implement and/or sustain an equipment management or biomedical reprogram that meets The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Develop material for a continuing education program for clinical or research staff, that address the principles and application of medical technology, and/or biomedical theory used in healthcare.
• Advise staff on emerging medical technology, or research procedures, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology, and utilizing the information to solve biomedical engineering problems
• Retain knowledge of basic project management principles, as applied to the healthcare setting and medical equipment, and information system implementation.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.
Telework: Not authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 evaluation.
• 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. Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet either items below to meet this requirement:
  • 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 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).

Certification as a Project Manager is not required, but highly desired.

Grade Determinations: GS-14

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

1. Experience. Completion of at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS-13), and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.
2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the biomedical engineer (clinical) must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
   1. Ability to conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment
   2. Knowledge and capacity to support the most complex and specialized clinical technology including service, system administration, training, and quality assurance.
   3. Knowledge of, and the ability to interpret and apply complex codes, regulations guidelines, and standards associated with the biomedical engineering field
   4. Ability to develop and implement policies that are consistent with organizational objectives.
   5. Ability to communicate and work collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G38 Biomedical Engineer Qualification Standard dated march 25, 2019

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over, pulling hand over hand (4 hours), reaching above shoulder, walking and standing (1 or 2 hours), kneeling (1 hour), climbing, use of legs and arms, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), mental and emotional stability.

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.