Summary Serves as a Chief Biomedical Engineer in the Healthcare Technology Management department. The department is responsible for the Biomedical Engineering Program at the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System (NWI VAHCS). The NWI VAHCS is a 60-bed consolidated care hospital that provides primary, secondary and tertiary care and supports a large research facility with staff affiliated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University. Responsibilities Provides the VAHCS with professional biomedical engineering management and support. Possesses professional knowledge of biomedical engineering principles, procedures, standards, equipment, techniques and methods. The incumbent will develop the knowledge and gain experience through being associated with or working for a significant period in any one or combination of trades associated with biomedical equipment, to be able to determine material and equipment requirements, work sequences, etc. Serves as a technical advisor on the medical center's Equipment Committee. As part of a technical team, helps anticipate the development and future clinical use of diagnostic, therapeutic, analytic and imaging systems not yet on the market. Evaluates the implications that such changes in technology and systems will have on the clinical staff, the biomedical engineering program, and the healthcare system in general. Assists in the coordination of safety alerts and recalls for the entire facility. Acts as a technical expert for finding solutions to problems on a temporary or long-term basis. Provides technical expertise to healthcare system staff regarding alerts and recalls and reports necessary alerts and recalls to the Patient Safety Committee and the Environment of Care Committee. Consults with VA staff at the facility, VISN, and Central Office level regarding solutions to alerts and recalls, and consults technical experts outside of the VA. Participates in the Patient Safety Committee by presenting information to the Committee, serves as a technical expert, and prepares risk analyses for implementing solutions to patient safety issues. Participates in Environment of Care rounds. Assists in the coordination of purchase, planning, construction, installation, and in-service training stages of major biomedical instrumentation projects, such as Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Radiology suites, and Operative Care suites. Creates and projects a budget for the biomedical section comprising a significant fraction of the facility's distribution. Demonstrates the ability to be resourceful in devising alternative methods to accomplish the objectives of the Biomedical Section when technical guidelines are not always prescriptive, economic conflicts are present, and other factors contribute to the complexity of decision making. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 0730-1600 Monday-Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad-Hoc only may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 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 trial period. 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. A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet either item (1) or (2) below to meet this requirement: 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. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time. OR, Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a bachelor's degree not listed above. NOTE: Only experience accomplished after receipt of the bachelor's degree, and/or CCE certification that requires the possession and use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated within the scope of the biomedical engineering profession is creditable. Additionally, the experience must have been attained in a healthcare setting for Biomedical Engineer (Clinical) positions directly applicable to the assignment. 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 et 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: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. 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 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. 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. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical), GS-14 Experience. Completion of at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level GS-13, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. GS-13 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the biomedical engineer (clinical) must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to manage overall department resources, i.e., finance, space, equipment, supplies, and staffing at a highly complex medical center or at the VISN level. Ability to develop local or VISN policies and/or draft directives related to healthcare technology management. Skill in balancing multiple responsibilities, setting priorities, delegating tasks and projects, meeting multiple deadlines, analyzing organizational problems, and developing and implementing effective solutions. Ability to analyze complex 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 leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers, within and outside the biomedical engineering program, to include conflict management, dispute resolution, mediation, or reasonable accommodations. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Biomedical Engineer Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. 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. 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. 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. 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. The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
