Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, and U.S. Citizens; NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Duties of the Supervisory Biomedical Engineer include, but are not limited to:

• Acts as a consultant to the Chief Biomedical Engineer and the Medical Center regarding Biomedical Engineering & related issues
• Assists with the determination of organizational changes in key positions within the Clinical Engineering Section
• Communicates agency and local policies and priorities to all employees within the Section
• 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
• Develops new methods or proposes new policies as required for other professional engineers at the facility and/or professional engineers in the VISN
• Assists in the development long-range plans for new and complex programs
• 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
• Assists with an equipment management program that meets current requirements from The Joint Commission (TJC) and NFPA, including planning, selection, consultation, installation, application, and maintenance
• Assists with management of a recall and safety alert program for equipment, including medical device incident investigations to ensure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and TJC requirements
• Assists the Chief Biomedical Engineer in the coordination of purchase, planning, construction, installation, and in-service training stages of major Biomedical Engineering
• Demonstrates the ability to be resourceful in devising alternative methods to accomplish the objectives of the Clinical Engineering Section when technical guidelines are not always prescriptive, economic conflicts are present, and other factors contribute to the complexity of decision making
• Works with the CAVHS Leadership, Service Chiefs, employees and their representatives, outside contracting agencies, engineers, architects, public sector department heads, engineers and managers at other VAMCs, VISN personnel, VACO personnel, national HTM & HEPG personnel, other federal agencies, members of academia and industry, and members of the private sector

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service)
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 598-00336-F
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 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

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.
• 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. OR,
• Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a Bachelor's Degree not listed above. Certification means having successfully passed a CCE written and oral examination administered by the American College of Clinical Engineering. If appointed with a CCE requirement, the employee must maintain certification throughout employment. The American College of Clinical Engineering determines acceptable educational preparation and degree requirements for CCE eligibility.
• English Language Proficiency. Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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

Preferred Experience:

• Managing tech life cycles and the recall and alert program for medical devices
• Directing the quality assurance program for clinical equipment, to include incoming inspection/acceptance testing, performance and safety testing, calibration, and maintenance and repair programs
• Managing biomedical projects to support equipment installation, repair, and system upgrades to optimize clinical work flow and patient safety
• Coordination of service agreements and in-house operations
• Providing technical expertise during equipment procurement review processes
• Investigating medical device hazards and incidents

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 Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Able to independently operate a motor vehicle.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. For positions requiring examinations, information is gleaned from the OF 178, as submitted with the recruitment packet.

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 Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, including CBOCs
2. Current permanent VHA employees
3. All other current permanent VA employees
4. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies
5. All other applicants

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.