Duties

The Supervisory (Chief) Biomedical Engineer (Clinical) is responsible for the professional and administrative management of the Biomedical Engineering Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, a tertiary care and university affiliated facility. The Supervisory (Chief) Biomedical Engineer (Clinical) has responsibility for supervising technical staff including engineers, biomedical engineering technicians, and other technical staff. Supervisory responsibility includes development of performance standards and performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing training needs; etc.

The Supervisory (Chief) Biomedical Engineer (Clinical) duties include and are not limited to:

• Responsible for financial management of budget resources allocated to support quality assurance and maintenance activities necessary to assure the facility medical equipment inventory is available for patient care activities;
• Conducts an equipment management program that meets current TJC and NFPA requirements;
• Evaluates other programs in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN);
• Manages a recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device incident investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and TJC requirements;
• Analyzes recall and safety alert programs for other medical centers and/or conducts medical equipment investigations for the VISN or national program office;
• Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment. Participates at the VISN and/or national level with capital asset planning;
• Analyzes organizational and operational problems and develops timely and economical solutions to meet facility, VISN, and/or national needs.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to qualified candidates
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized to qualified candidates
EDRP Authorized: Contact Daniel Benton, daniel.benton@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's Degree or Higher in Engineering (degree must be conferred by September 1, 2021). 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 above.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical), GS-14:
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 biomedical engineer (clinical) must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
i. Ability to manage overall department resources, i.e., finance, space, equipment, supplies, and staffing at a highly complex medical center or at the VISN level.
ii. Ability to develop local or VISN policies and/or draft directives related to healthcare technology management.
iii. Skill in balancing multiple responsibilities, setting priorities, delegating tasks and projects, meeting multiple deadlines, analyzing organizational problems, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
iv. Ability to analyze complex 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.
v. Skill in interpersonal relationships leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers, within and outside the biomedical engineering program, to include conflict management, dispute resolution, mediation, or reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Experience:

• Biomedical Engineering Degree
• Experience in a hospital environment
• Technical expert of medical equipment
• Procurement experience in medical equipment

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix, Biomedical Engineer Qualification Standard, GS-0858

Physical Requirements: The work may require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of items weighing up to 40 pounds, and bending/stooping.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .