This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the GS-7, 9, and 11 grade levels, you would perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You would progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance.

Duties

The GS-7 is the entry level for a Biomedical Engineer located at the Hines VAMC with occasional travel as needed to the surrounding Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs). The workload is developmental in nature and designed to be entry level in responsibility and knowledge level. The purpose of this position is to support the Biomedical Engineering Department's goals by using Biomedical Engineering principles. The GS-9 is a developmental level 1 position for a Biomedical Engineer. The workload is developmental in nature and requires direction on more complex tasks in the engineering field. The incumbent also learns the operations of other services. The GS-11 is a developmental level 2 position for a Biomedical Engineer. The incumbent functions on a semi-independent basis with limited oversight by the supervisor; participates in medical device hazard investigations; assures compliance with patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act, The Joint Commission requirements; and, assists in the development of the equipment management program. May lead medical technology deployments and directly support medical equipment. The GS-12 is the full-performance level position for a Biomedical Engineer. The incumbent works under general supervision with wide latitude to exercise independent judgement. Drawing upon extended professional and technical experience, the Biomedical Engineer demonstrates an intimate understanding of complex clinical and biomedical subject matter; serves as a facility resource, working extensively with clinical stakeholders; supports clinical services by leading market research, technology assessments, integration planning, and implementation of both current and emerging medical technologies; responsible for network security issues for medical systems and the information communicated across these systems; supports the clinical mission by contributing to the continuing education program for clinical staff, helping ensure safe and efficient healthcare delivery; assists with capital asset and infrastructure planning to help ensure successful strategic planning; and, collaborates with contracting to execute judicious healthcare technology procurements. Within the Biomedical Engineering Department, the Biomedical Engineer provides leadership that ensures that high quality and responsive customer service are an integral component of biomedical engineering service delivery. He/she is a highly effective communicator capable of serving as a subject matter expert directly supporting the life cycle management of clinical technology to include ongoing service, system administration, training, and quality assurance. Major Functions: Conducts a medical equipment management program that is compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies. Develops curriculum for a continuing education program that addresses the safe and effective use of medical technology. Manages recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device hazard investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, Safe Medical Devices Act, and The Joint Commission requirements. Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment. Functions as a subject matter expert in the field of biomedical engineering. Effectively advise clinical and administrative staff on medical technology. Applies basic networking principles to resolve medical system communication issues including, but not limited to, node to server failures. Communicates and works collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization. Applies project management principles to the deployment of medical equipment and health information technologies. Functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels. Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists at developmental levels. Represents Biomedical/Clinical Engineering department on committees and in meetings as delegated by supervisor. Work Schedule: Mon Thru Fri 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. Education and/or Experience: The applicant must meet either item (1) or (2) below to meet this requirement: 1. 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). Examples of acceptable engineering degrees include: Biomedical, Clinical, Biomechanical, Electrical, Mechanical, or Biochemical Engineering or Bioengineering. Grade Determinations: *Biomedical Engineer, GS-7 (Entry Level): Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Education: Bachelor's degree as outlined above. OR CCE certification with at least a bachelor's degree in a field not listed above. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): None beyond the basic requirements. *Biomedical Engineer, GS-9 (Developmental Level 1): Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level including but not limited to: completing technical assignments in the engineering field under the direction of a senior biomedical engineer and rotating through the operations of other hospital services. Employees function with oversight by a supervisor for more complex assignments. OR Education: Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of study as outlined above. OR Bachelor's degree, as outlined above, plus two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study. AND Demonstrated Knowledge Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of the Biomedical Engineering profession. 2. Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines, and standards, and make recommendations to ensure compliance with medical center programs. 3. Ability to understand the operational needs of clinical services in the health care system. 4. Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends, for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management, and the ability to keep abreast of changes in technology. *Biomedical Engineer, GS-11 (Developmental Level 2): Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level including but not limited to: functioning on a semi-independent basis with limited oversight by senior biomedical engineers; participating in medical device hazard investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA), and TJC requirements; and, assist in the development of an equipment management program at the medical center. Employees may lead medical technology deployments, directly support medical equipment, or participate in research projects. OR Education: Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field of engineering as outlined above. OR Bachelor's degree, plus three full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study as outlined above. AND Demonstrated Knowledge Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 1. Ability to implement and/or sustain an equipment management or biomedical research program that meets The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or other applicable regulatory requirements. 2. Ability to develop material for a continuing education program for clinical or research staff, that address the principles and application of medical technology, and/or biomedical theory used in healthcare. 3. Ability to advise staff on emerging medical technology, or research procedures, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology, and utilizing the information to solve biomedical engineering problems. 4. Knowledge of basic project management principles, as applied to the healthcare setting and medical equipment, and information system implementation. *Biomedical Engineer, GS-12 (Full-Performance Level): Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level including but not limited to: working under general supervision with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment; drawing upon extended professional and technical experience, demonstrate an intimate understanding of complex clinical and biomedical subject matter; serve as an institutional resource working extensively with clinical stakeholders; support clinical services by leading market research, technology assessments, integration planning, and implementation of both current and emerging medical technologies. OR Completion of a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of biomedical engineering. AND Demonstrated Knowledge Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 1. Ability to conduct a medical equipment management program that is compliant with applicable healthcare standards and regulatory agencies. 2. Ability to develop a curriculum for a continuing education program, that address the safe and effective use of medical technology, and/or research devices. 3. Ability to manage a recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and TJC requirements. 4. Ability to conduct capital asset and infrastructure planning for medical equipment spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation of complex medical equipment. 5. Ability to function as the subject matter expert in the field of biomedical engineering, directly supporting specialized clinical technology, including service, system administration, training, quality assurance, and life-cycle management. 6. Ability to effectively advise clinical and administrative staff on medical technology, including existing and emerging technology, which addresses viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety. 7. Knowledge of concepts related to computer based medical systems, networking protocols, and information security as it applies to medical technology within VHA. 8. Skill in communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders, including technical and professional staff at various levels of the organization. 9. Ability to apply project management principles to deployment of medical equipment and health information technologies. 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). References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G38 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physically, the incumbent must be able to stand, sit, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, work in awkward and cramped positions, and be able to lift at least 25 pounds. In addition, the incumbent must successfully demonstrate mental and emotional fortitude in balancing available resources to achieve tight deadlines, competing priorities, and policy execution.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Kiphanie Moore
• Phone: 414-712-8177
• Email: [email protected]