Summary The Assistant Chief with the Chief Biomedical Engineer and other staff Biomedical Engineers, is responsible for the hospital-wide Biomedical Engineering/Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Program serving all departments throughout the Medical Center, Community Living Center (CLC), outpatient clinics, and other off-site locations. Biomedical Engineering is directly responsible for more than 8,000 active medical devices; of which almost are networked. RELOCATION INCENTIVE IS AUTHORIZED Responsibilities This position is located at the Corporal Michael J. Crecenz VA Medical Center (CMCVAMC), Philadelphia, PA. The Senior Staff Biomedical Engineer supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare technology. Duties include but not limited to: Assures development and maintenance of the VAMC Medical Equipment Management Program that meets current Joint Commission and NFPA requirements. Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment and very complex integrated medical equipment systems. Advises senior clinical and leadership staff on medical engineering technology (including existing and emerging technology) addressing viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety. Serves as a senior institutional resource for complex and specialized clinical technology including service, system administration, training, and quality assurance. Coordinates the management of the recall and safety alert program for medical devices including medical device hazard investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and JCAHO requirements; analyzing and formulating data into reports presented to the Environment of Care Committee. Facilitates a continuing education program for clinical staff addressing the principles and application of medical instrumentation used in the delivery of health care. This includes a curriculum that addresses the safe and effective use of medical equipment and/or technology. Ability to interpret and apply, complex codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards associated with the application biomedical engineering to the hospital environment through expert knowledge of healthcare technology management. Experience generating and managing service contracts for medical equipment support. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am -3:30pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Judy.simmons@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more 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 medical 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: Biomedical Engineers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance to VA Policy Education or Experience: 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education, and/or certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. (2) 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. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If an employee, who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision, leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status, and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. 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). Preferred Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years' experience in Healthcare Technology Management as a staff and/or chief biomedical/clinical engineer in a tertiary academically affiliated medical center. Minimum of 1 year Biomedical/Clinical Engineering experience in VHA. Successful completion of the VA Technical Career Field (TCF) Internship in Biomedical Engineering. Certification in Clinical Engineering and/or Healthcare Technology Management Grade Determinations: Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical), GS-13 Experience. Completion of at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS-12), such as responsibility supervising technical staff, including lower level engineers, biomedical engineering technicians, and other staff; development of performance standards and performance evaluations; recommendations for appointments, awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing training needs etc.; financial management of budget resources allocated to support quality assurance and maintenance activities necessary to assure the facility's medical equipment is available for patient care activities; compliance and reporting of medical device cyber security and isolation for facilities under their management oversight. Assisting the Chief Biomedical Engineer with medical equipment inventory records to ensure an accurate and effective database to support the maintenance, hazard alert, and replacement planning processes. Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed. Standardizing the equipment inventory in support of VA's Medical Device Nomenclature System (VA-MDNS) requirements. Adheres to Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) guidelines to both pre-procurement and during system implementation. Validates test protocols and test equipment/set up to be used in inspections, evaluations, calibration, and repair, 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: Knowledge of the management of overall department resources, i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, and staffing at the local level. Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare technology management. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/104 PART II, APPENDIX G38 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS-13. Physical Requirements: pre-employment physical and drug testing is required 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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 an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.