Clarification from the agency

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. Open to current permanent Puget Sound VA HCS employees only

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NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

Functions

• Ability to develop and implement local level policies and/or directives.
• Skilled in leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers, to include conflict management, dispute resolution, mediation, or reasonable accommodations.
• Responsible for HR-related duties of their subordinates including, but not limited to, performance standards, disciplinary actions, performance evaluations, and recommendations for advancements and awards.
• Responsible for the financial management of budget resources to support quality assurance and maintenance activities. Ensuring appropriate contracts/service agreements are in place to ensure the facility's medical equipment is available for patient care activities.
• Responsible for compliance and reporting of medical device cybersecurity incidents and isolation for facilities under their purview.
• Uses engineering principles to provide professional, biomedical services for the institution and functions as a subject matter expert in the field.
• Skilled in communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders at various levels of the organization.
• Skilled in balancing multiple, conflicting responsibilities; setting priorities; delegating tasks; meeting multiple deadlines; analyzing organizational problems; and developing and implementing effective solutions.
• Stays abreast of emerging technology, identifies trends, and effectively advises administrative, technical, and clinical staff at senior levels of the organization.
• Ability to conduct a medical equipment management program compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to manage recall and safety alert program including medical device hazard investigations and ensure compliance with the patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA), and Joint Commission (JC) requirements.
• Establishes and maintains the medical equipment management program and completes annual evaluations of the program's effectiveness. Assists in evaluating and writing the Medical Equipment Management Plan (MEMP).
• Establishes and monitors metrics and initiates performance improvement activities.
• Develops, delivers, and evaluates performance plans for subordinate staff. Recognizes deserving staff for exceptional performance.
• Addresses performance problems and conduct issues in accordance with established labor union agreements, human resources guidance, and policies.
• Requests and develops recruitment packages to fill/backfill any open or vacant positions. Screens and interviews applicants, conducts reference checks, and selects only qualified candidates.
• Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). Develops documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services. Manages, monitors, and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies.
• The incumbent shall assist the Chief of Biomedical Engineering in the process of new equipment purchases including, but not limited to, planning, budgeting, prioritizing, evaluating, implementing, integrating, installing, and go-live of new medical equipment and equipment systems. - Participates as a member of the VISN 20 HTM Team and other medical center committees. Serves as a subject matter expert on assigned committees, projects, and workgroups. Leads meetings with manufacturers and vendors in matters involving medical equipment and systems for both the VISN and local medical center.
• Serve as an advisor to the Chief of Biomedical Engineering and may serve as an advisor to senior clinical and medical center leadership in all areas relating to complex and specialized medical equipment and equipment systems.
• Driving to Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and Domiciliary in government owned vehicle (GOV), SUV, box truck, sedan.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 41760-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
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 identification 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

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 (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:

Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical), GS-13

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:

1. Knowledge of the management of overall department resources, i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, and staffing at the local level.
2. Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare technology management.
3. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At this level, employees are supervisors and are at the facility level. 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.

Preferred Experience: Demonstrated work experience providing engineering review and guidance for the Health Technology Management (HTM)/Biomedical Engineering programs which include management and supervision of Medical Equipment Projects for Facility Technology Planning, Installations, and Problem-Solving. Must demonstrate a high degree of competency in initiating, planning, and implementing programs related to HTM/Biomedical Engineering.

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: This work requires heavy lifting (45lbs and over), moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs), light lifting and carrying (under 15lbs), straight pulling, pulling hand over hand, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, climbing use of legs and arms, operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors are working outside and inside, excessive noise, intermittent, dust, fumes, smoke, or gases, solvents (degreasing agents), grease and oils, radiant energy, electrical energy, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around machinery with moving parts, working around moving objects or vehicles, vibration, working closely with others, and working alone.

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.