Lead Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS)

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees of VA San Francisco.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides guidance and mentorship for professional and technical development.
• Facilitates training of HTM staff to develop knowledge of medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Establishes and revises workload distribution to address daily priorities.
• Monitors metrics, analyzes data, and supports performance improvement activities.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on assigned committees, projects, and workgroups.
• Apprises management of performance and conduct of HTM staff.
• Identifies opportunities to improve customer service and satisfaction, and addresses customer feedback effectively and in a timely manner.
• Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Serves as a Government Purchase Card (GPC) holder, approving official, or alternate approving official.
• Maintains and enhances knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training.
• Manages the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action.
• Performs incoming inspections and planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Maintains knowledge of and complies with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0700-1530
Telework/Remote: This position is not a telework/remote position.

Position Description Title/FS#: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-1601-12 / 07819-F
Promotion Potential: Full performance level of GS-12

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• 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.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

a. 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).

b. Education, Experience, or Certification. (1) Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field;
OR
(2) Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience;
OR
(3) Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program;
OR
(4) Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience;
OR
(5) Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship;
OR
(6) Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR
(7) 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.

EXPERIENCE. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. GS-11

English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Note: 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.

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: Lead Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11). (As a reference, KSAs at the GS-11 level include: Knowledge of standards including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems; Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multi- meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tachometers, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers; Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams; Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN); Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces; Ability to maintain medical computers and software; and, Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.)

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS ABILITIES. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Skill in managing projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.
(b) Skill in resolving customer concerns.
(c) Ability to comply with 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).
(d) Ability to lead staff in managing daily work assignments and priorities.
(e) Ability to mentor staff in professional and technical development. (f) Ability to analyze data to monitor overall program effectiveness.

Assignment. For all Lead assignments BESS must spend at least 25% or more of their time performing lead duties. In addition to the duties of an FPL BESS, they support the biomedical engineering management team. They work with the supervisor to distribute and prioritize work among employees, monitor progress of work assignments, and revise schedules to meet workload demands. Lead BESSs assist technicians with repairs and resolutions. They analyze data and prepare reports and plan, implement, and provide technical and project oversight for medical equipment and clinical systems. Lead BESSs instruct employees on work- related activities, and monitor compliance to policies, procedures, and goals. They provide information to management concerning performance, assignment changes, and task completion. Lead BESSs facilitate employee training to develop working knowledge of medical equipment and clinical systems. They provide mentorship and guidance to staff. Lead BESSs serve as a SME on assigned committees, projects, and workgroups. They resolve customer service concerns.

Preferred Experience:

• 5+ Years of Experience Working in Biomedical/Clinical Engineering
• Serves as subject matter expert in training HTM staff, workload management, and monitoring metrics
• Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and Government Purchase Card Holder (GPC)
• Serves as a subject matter expert in preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management of medical equipment and clinical systems.

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-12.

Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Environmental factors: The work may include electrical energy, working on ladders, working outdoors, and working alone. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts associated with hazardous materials. The work may involve occasional travel, driving, and/or traveling by motor vehicle.

Education:

Transcripts must be provided if you are using education to qualify for the position.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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/.

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.

Documents required:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps