Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to The Public. If you a Current, Permanent Federal employee, please apply to Job Announcement Number CBSX-12808402-25-QMD

General Description of Assigned Duties:

• Assists with the overall operations of the Biomedical Engineering program at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS). Incumbent provides engineering review, guidance, and development of the Medical Equipment Management Program encompassing professional engineering consulting with medical staff in all areas involving medical instrumentation.
• Responsible for having knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the biomedical engineering profession. These requirements include federal i.e. OSHA, EPA, FDA, NFPA, etc. state and local authorities having specific jurisdiction concerning protection and quality of life and environment, as well as accrediting bodies i.e. The Joint Commission (TJC), CARF, CAP, etc.
• COR responsibilities of contract initiation, maintenance, execution, and technical oversight is required for the position as service and parts contracts for Biomedical Engineering equipment and systems is an integral part of the maintenance program.
• Assists in the planning of capital asset and infrastructure to promote the cost-effective maintenance and safety of the facility's medical equipment inventory including complex medical instrumentation.
• Actively promotes the viability of NAVAHCS by supporting strategic planning, working with clinical and administrative staff as well as Facility Management Services to plan, implement, and design solutions to address Biomedical Engineering needs and the operational needs of clinical services.

Function and Scope of Assigned Duties:

• Responsible for supporting and conducting a comprehensive medical equipment management program that must ensure the safety, reliability, and diagnostic/therapeutic efficacy of all devices employed in the direct and indirect delivery of patient care.
• Assists in the development of an equipment management program at NAVAHCS. Responsible for having knowledge of a medical equipment management program which includes complete life cycle management of medical equipment and systems.
• Has the knowledge of basic project management principles to coordinate and assist in managing NAVAHCS projects that require Biomedical Engineering as the lead or an interface such as those applies in the health care setting for medical equipment and information system implementation.
• The organization and management of the preventive maintenance and electrical safety portions of the maintenance program include establishing optimal inspection frequencies based on professional judgments concerning reliability statistics as well as the development of instructions and specifications to cover new equipment with which the medical center and the VHA may have had no previous experience.
• Responsible for evaluation and assessment of major failure problems or inadequate performance of medical equipment and systems.
• Must be able to read, interpret, and apply technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, tables, charts, and formulas to effect repairs and assist technical staff.
• Prepares material on current technical topics and trends, quality assurance monitoring reports and presentations, standard operating procedures, and preventive maintenance procedures as required.
• Coordinates and assists with medical device hazard investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, Safe Medical Device Act (SMDA), and TJC requirements.
• Effectively communicate, both orally and in writing. This enables the incumbent to work with VA and vendor personnel to effectively document maintenance and administrative activities, as well as writing effective, clear, and concise technical and user instructions, policy memoranda, reports, project documentation, and position papers.
• Lifecycle management of network equipment including but not limited to network switches, servers, routers and related infrastructure for any and all networked complex medical devices and systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring.
• Manages, troubleshoots and maintains complete systems of computerized networks, databases and servers, including but not limited to biomedical information systems that store or facilitate patient information.
• Implements and plans for new and emerging technologies including but not limited to diagnostic modalities, network management and storage, and virtual data centers.
• Designs, implements and manages network incident response due to infection, loss of service or regional and local policy changes according to VA guidelines.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Bloodborne Pathogens: This position requires no exposure to bloodborne pathogens, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials.


Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8AM-4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates
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 dentification 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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance
• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
• Education: 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. (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.

Preferred Experience: Three plus years of Biomedical Engineer experience.

Grade Determinations:
GS-12 Experience: Completion of at least [one] year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level; or completion of a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of biomedical engineering, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to conduct a medical equipment management or biomedical research program that is compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies.
2. Ability to develop a curriculum for a continuing education program, that address the safe and effective use of medical technology, and/or research devices.
3. Ability to manage a recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and [TJC] requirements.
4. Ability to conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment.
5. Ability to function as the subject matter expert in the field of biomedical engineering, directly supporting specialized clinical technology, including service, system administration, training, quality assurance, and life-cycle management.
6. Ability to effectively advise clinical and administrative staff on medical technology, including existing and emerging technology, which addresses viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety.
7. Knowledge of concepts related to computer based medical systems, networking protocols, and information security as it applies to medical technology within VHA.
8. Skill in communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization.
9. Ability to apply project management principles to deployment of medical equipment and health information technologies.
Assignment. At the full performance level, employees work under general supervision, with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment. Drawing upon extended professional and technical experience, employees demonstrate an intimate understanding of complex clinical and biomedical subject matter. They serve as institutional resources, working extensively with clinical stakeholders, supporting clinical services by leading market research, technology assessments, integration planning, and implementation of both current and emerging medical technologies. The employee shares responsibility for managing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), network security issues for medical systems, and the information communicated across these systems. Biomedical Engineers at the GS-12 grade level further support the clinical mission by contributing to the continuing education program for clinical staff, helping ensure safe and efficient healthcare delivery. Biomedical Engineers at the GS-12 grade level support the institution by assisting with capital asset and infrastructure planning, to help ensure successful strategic planning. They may collaborate frequently with contracting to execute judicious healthcare technology procurements. Within the Biomedical Engineering Department, the employee provides leadership that ensures high quality and responsive customer service is an integral component of biomedical engineering service delivery. They are highly effective communicators, capable of serving as subject matter experts directly supporting the life cycle management of clinical technology, to include ongoing service, system administration, training, and quality assurance. At this level, employees may assist in clinical research projects in the biomedical engineering field.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume/CV
• Resume
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.


The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Resume/CV
• Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE)
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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