Summary The position of the Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) Technician is assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) under the Nursing & Patient Care Service at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center located in Chicago, Illinois. This position serves as an advanced technician for the Inpatient and Outpatient Nursing Operations for administrative and clinical functions to provide high-quality patient. Responsibilities Full Performance GS-07 Duties include but may not be limited to the following: Conducting physical inventories of general equipment, ensuring that all Bar Code Administration (BCMA( software and hardware (e.g., scanners, computer on wheels and printers) is functioning properly. Monitoring and verifying the functionality and operations of the Bar Code Backup Unit (BCBU).Collaborate with Nursing, Biomed, and IT Operations and Services (ITOPS) staff to resolve technical problems promptly Assists in conducting training sessions for employees on evaluating and maintaining BCMA hardware and software operations Utilize troubleshooting guides to resolve BCMA issues and will escalate work orders to Biomed and/or IT if they are unable to resolve the issue Maintain a list of submitted work orders, monitor their status, and be responsible for coordinating their resolution and report status of workorders to BCMA Coordinator for further review and action Serves as a liaison between the Nursing, Biomed, and IT departments to facilitate smooth BCMA operations Communicate any issues or unit/ward downtime promptly to BCMA Coordinator Provide updates on status of equipment with work orders to staff and provide contingency plans until the equipment is fully functioning Develop justifications and/or provide recommendations for budget and purchase of equipment, supplies, and materials related to BCMA operations Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm with scheduling flexibility required. May be required to provide coverage to all tours if needed. Virtual: This is not a virtual/remote position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (BCMA)/PD252460 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/25/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. In addition to meeting the time in grade requirement, you must meet the following minimum qualifications requirements. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-06) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include: Communication and interpersonal relations, including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers; Maintenance of confidentiality of patient/employee information, electronic and print; Hospital's performance improvement programs; Work and function in the Hospital in a safe manner, including infection control and the correct operation of equipment; Age-specific care, as identified in the Age-Specific Competencies, including knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult and geriatric age groups; Practical knowledge and understanding of the Bar Code Medication Administration system, including hardware (e.g. scanners and printers) and software. Proficiency in using and troubleshooting Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) equipment. Basic understanding of pharmacy operations and medication administration processes. Familiarity with medication, safety protocols, and guidelines. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one full year of graduate education (18 semester hours or equivalent), or an internship in course matter with a major that included courses directly related to the work of the Health Technician position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (Transcripts Required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that equals the total amount of required experience. (Transcripts required) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Biomedical Equipment Technology Communications Information Systems/Network Security Information Technology Performance Assessment Operations Support 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires a level of physical fitness that allows standing for extended periods, heavy lifting to move equipment and supplies up to 25 pounds. The work will require recurrent bending, lifting, stooping, standing, squatting, stretching, sitting and walking. Work Environment:: work primarily in a healthcare setting, which may involve exposure to infectious diseases. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education 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 This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.
