Lead Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants in USA Staffing will be qualified based on the resume submitted and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager every 1-2 weeks until the announcement is closed, cancelled, or filled.

Serves as a Lead Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at a VA facility. Works in support of the medical equipment management program.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education, Experience, or Certification:
  • 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.
• 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:
GS-12 Lead Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist:

• Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-11.
  • This experience includes: 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 multimeters, 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; Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.
• AND

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  1. Skill in managing projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.
  2. Skill in resolving customer concerns.
  3. 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).
  4. Ability to lead staff in managing daily work assignments and priorities.
  5. Ability to mentor staff in professional and technical development.
  6. Ability to analyze data to monitor overall program effectiveness.

Grandfathering Provision:

• Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/26/2024) 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 reentry to the occupation.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Responsibilities:

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• 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.
• 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).
• As necessary, 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).
• Responds to and remediates hazard alerts, recall notifications, and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all actions in the appropriate system.
• Monitors system backups, ensures network connectivity, mitigates cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and maintains clinical systems. - Utilizes test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
• Manages projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Provides customer support to staff, evaluates issues and needs, responds with solutions, and keeps customers abreast of status.
• Educates staff on the safe operation and user-level maintenance of medical equipment and clinical systems.
• Develops documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services. Manages, monitors, and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies.
• Maintains knowledge of and complies with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• At least 25% of employees' time will include leadership duties
• Analyzes data and prepares reports regarding maintenance activities
• Provides mentorship for HTM staff. Serves as a subject matter expert on assigned committees, projects, and workgroups.
• Plans, implements, and provides technical and project oversight for medical equipment and clinical systems.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $93,537