Skip to main content
U.S. flag
 

Supervisory Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center - Phoenix, AZ

Summary

The Supervisory Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) at VA Phoenix Medical Center, within the Clinical Engineering Service, works in support of the Biomedical Engineering service by providing leadership, guidance, and supervision among assigned employees. Additionally, the supervisory BESS provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients and administrators for all matters of concerns relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of medical equipment.



Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$122,749 - $159,575 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBSX-13056255-26-QMD
Control number
883471400

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This announcement is open to Current, Permanent federal employees of VA Phoenix Health Care System ONLY.

Videos

Duties

Help

Major duties to include but not limited to:

FUNCTIONS:

  • Lifecycle management of any and all medical systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support.
  • Performs advanced testing and troubleshooting of medical devices and systems involving their interfaces and connections to information systems either directly or through the facility's hardwired and wireless networks.
  • Develops policy for the Biomedical Engineering department and local facility as needed.
  • Translates management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled biomedical work operations.
  • Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies including but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
  • Documents all work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
  • Implements the Biomedical Section training program, in-house cross training, and vendor training, to ensure that technicians are kept abreast of the changing technology.
  • Uses knowledge of government contract procedures and documentation requirements to develop statements of work, sole source justifications, other applicable documentation (6550, Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), etc.) and to oversee vendor work.
  • Investigates, remediates and documents recalls and safety alerts within established timeframes.
  • Maintains knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology, including scientific advances, network protocols, and vendor changes.
  • Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff.
  • Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and development graded BESS.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Functions:
  • Develops goals, objectives, and policy for the medical equipment management program and monitors progress;
  • Provides analysis, identifies, and plans workload among subordinates in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations.
  • Assigns daily work to staff, establishing priorities based on workload related to BESS and ensures that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product.
  • Advises supervisor and other management officials as necessary on status of critical medical equipment that may adversely impact veteran care and/or access;
  • Provides input to the annual budget for the unit, and monitors spending throughout the fiscal year to ensure that adequate resources are available to support mission.
  • Leads the team in assessing its strengths and weaknesses and provides leadership to the team in exploring alternatives and determining what improvements can be made.
  • Develops performance standards for subordinates; evaluates work performance of subordinates using work order and other relevant data.
  • Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both technical and administrative matters; serves as coach and facilitator in consensus building activities among team members;
  • Hears and resolves complaints from employees, referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager;
  • Effects minor disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, recommending other action in more serious cases;
  • Identifies developmental and training needs of employees, providing or arranging for needed development and training;
  • Plans for long-range staffing needs, considering changes to medical equipment inventory, medical center strategic plan, and budget;
  • Interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends selection, appointment, promotion, or reassignment to such positions;
  • Recommends awards or bonuses for subordinates, subject to approval by higher level officials, supervisors, or others;
  • Approves and monitors the use of overtime and/or alternate tours needed to accomplish work.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Environment of Care
  • Follows Life Safety Management (fire protection) procedures.
  • Reports safety hazards, accidents and injuries. Reviews hazardous materials/Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/waste management. Follows Emergency Preparedness plan. Follows security policies/procedures.
  • Complies with federal, state and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Help

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 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:

  • Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
  • Education, Experience and Education:
    • 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.
  • Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard 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.
NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements.
  • Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
  • English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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: GS-13
Experience:
At least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  1. Skill in managing workflow by directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
  2. Skill in developing policies to oversee medical equipment and clinical systems.
  3. Skill in managing interpersonal relationships between employees, team leaders, and managers.
  4. Skill in applying standards for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
  5. Ability to supervise subordinate staff (for example, plan, organize, delegate, direct, control, and review activities and performance).
  6. Ability to provide guidance on multiple types of medical equipment and clinical systems.
  7. Ability to analyze data to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G49, Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist Qualification Standards GS-1601

Physical Requirements: Pre-employment physical will be conducted in accordance with VA Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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.

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?

The VA Desert Pacific Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model that is based in a partnership across time, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Agency contact information

Queen Dimas
Phone
562-826-8000
Email
Queen.Dimas@va.gov
Address
Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center
650 East Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ 85012
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Veterans Health Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.va.gov/jobs

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.