Summary This recruitment is also being announced as a Biomedical Engineer, GS-0858-13 under announcement https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/771574300 Location Negotiable is within VISN 1 facilities to include: Augusta, ME; Manchester, NH; White River Junction, VT; Northampton, MA; Bedford, MA; West Roxbury, MA; Providence, RI; West Haven, CT to be negotiated later. Responsibilities The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist is a senior level Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) that consults on the lifecycle management of medical technology(s) regionally within assigned VISN(s) within VHA. The incumbent is an expert for a specific medical technology(s) (i.e. laboratory equipment, RTLS technology, Temperature and Humidity, PACS, Pharmacy) and serves as a liaison between Biomedical Engineering staff at VHA, VISN, and facility levels. The duties and responsibilities of the Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (VISN level) include but are not limited to the following: Provides input on medical technology to local facility and/or VISN on High-Cost/High-Tech requests as needed Monitors emerging medical technology and trends across VISN Provides consultations on strategic equipment planning as requested Initiates and participates in technology assessment and product evaluations Drafts RFP requirements for new equipment purchases, translating clinical needs into technical specifications Coordinates with Regional/VISN and facility stakeholders including but not limited to medical staff, clinical personnel, Biomedical Engineering, OI&T, Facilities Engineering, Patient Safety, Logistics, Contracting, NAC, and equipment manufacturers on medical technology Provides education and cross-training, sets up local and VISN training programs on topics such as networking, a specific medical technology, etc. Coordinates and implements VISN roll out of technology updates/upgrades and activation of new systems Reviews and drafts local and/or VISN policies and procedures for implementation as related to the incumbent's area of assignment Provides education and creates local and/or VISN training programs for medical technology as applicable Establishes and shares best practices for maintaining and managing medical technology Investigates and advises on medical device and information security issues Provides support of Repairable Medical Device (RMD) alerts and recalls issued through the Alert & Recall Management System (ARMS) Provides guidance to VHA facilities on applicable regulatory requirements, codes and standards as they apply to the safety, operation, and management of medical instrumentation Advises on and develops BESS performance standards, competencies, and work methods/approaches throughout the VISN Serves as VA BESS liaison to equipment manufacturers for specific technologies at a Regional/VISN level Serves as liaison to clinical Program Offices and VISN personnel for specialized medical technologies Creates and reviews VISN Biomedical Engineering documents including policy, PM procedures/protocols, and technology configuration guidance Participates in VISN workgroups and projects to provide technical and Biomedical Engineering expertise Provides maintenance and technology management to multiple VHA medical centers both remotely and on-site as needed Serves as VISN expert on specific medical technologies and provides consultation on medical technology systems that span across multiple medical centers in the VHA organization; this is a specific focus on the VISN standardized general and advance networked medical systems. But example technologies where the incumbent coordinates technical support activities across the network include, backup systems for medical device data, data analytics systems, laboratory equipment, RTLS technology, Temperature and Humidity, PACS, Pharmacy, Renal and Dental and integration of medical devices to the electronic medical record. Provides assistance and technical guidance to facility Biomedical Engineering staff ( on-site as needed) on preventive and corrective maintenance; shares troubleshooting tips, training, and best practices Administers guidance on specific technology networking requirements in accordance with established VA Medical Device Cyber Security policies and procedures. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Bargaining Unit Position: This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This position is covered by a special rate. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOCs as needed for coverage. Current or Formal Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees. 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 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 Equipment Support Specialists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet one of the criteria below to meet this requirement: (1) Associates degree in Biomedical Electronics Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology or Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related technical field such as Electronic Technology or Information Technology and two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer, or Information Technology Specialist; OR; Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related field such as Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) or Information Technology; OR; Completion of a military training program in biomedical equipment and two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist or Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer or Information Technology Specialist. Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a BESS 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 that is 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 may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) BESSs 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) BESSs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Employees who are retained as a BESS under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a BESS. GS-13 Grade Level Requirements: (a) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-13 you must have at least 1 year of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Certification as a Project Manager highly desired but not required. Examples of such experience are, but not limited to: Knowledge of VA, NFPA, FDA, NRC, The Joint Commission, and other relevant safety and radiation safety standards. Ability to lead biomedical staff and work on medical equipment if needed to maintain compliant workflow. Knowledge of project management principles required to effectively and efficiently manage multiple, concurrent projects. Skill in communication to interact with clinical, technical and managerial staff. Ability to instruct staff, lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to effectively communicate with professionals of varying levels of technical knowledge within multiple levels of the VHA organization. Ability to coordinate work across multiple settings, e.g., medical centers, VISNs. Knowledge of the codes and standards of VA, TJC, NFPA, AAMI, FDA, and AHA as they apply to the safety and operation of medical instrumentation. Knowledge related to the characteristics, capabilities, installation, and configuration of medical equipment and their associated networks.(e) Ability to analyze regional technical issues and develop timely and economical solutions. Ability to analyze regional technical issues and develop timely and economical solutions. Preferred Experience: Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-PPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) certification is highly desired. Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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 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 an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.