The Columbia VA Medical Center is seeking a full-time Supervisory Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS). The Supervisory BESS works in support of the Biomedical Engineering Department by providing leadership, guidance and supervision among assigned employees. The Supervisory BESS provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of medical equipment.

Duties

Major duties may include, but are not limited to: Lifecycle management of any and all medical systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support. Coordinates and works effectively with other facility support departments including but not limited to Facilities Management Service (FMS), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Sterile Processing Service (SPS), and Environmental Management Service (EMS). Utilizes common test equipment including, but not limited to, electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, and multimeters. Performs advanced testing and troubleshooting of medical devices and systems involving their interfaces and connections to information systems either directly or through the facility's hardwired and wireless networks. Adheres to Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) Guidelines in both pre-procurement and during system implementation. Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed. Executes VA guidelines when responding to network incident response (due to infection, loss of services or regional and local policy changes). Develops policy for the HTM Service and local facility as needed. Translates management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled biomedical work operations. Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies including but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Implements the Biomedical Section training program, in-house cross training, and vendor training, to ensure that technicians are kept abreast of the changing technology as effectively as possible within the available resources. Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff. Provides supervisory oversight over HTM department BESS Technicians, including general BESS, Information System BESS, and Imaging BESS. Provides analysis, identifies, and plans workload among subordinates in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Sets and adjusts short-term and long-term priorities, and sets deadlines for completion of work as necessary. Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns daily work to staff, establishing priorities based on workload related to BESS technicians and ensures that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product. Reviews progress of work assignments, modifies as needed and checks completed work for accuracy. Ensures SOPs and standards are followed. Provides input to the annual budget for the unit, and monitors spending throughout the fiscal year to ensure that adequate resources are available to support mission. Evaluates need for service contracts and on-demand vendor service. Leads the equipment maintenance team in assessing its strengths and weaknesses and provides leadership to the team in exploring alternatives and determining what improvements can be made (e.g., in work methods, processes, productivity and quality). Work Schedule: Monday -Friday | 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Not available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 544-54483F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not applicable/authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not applicable/authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

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. Experience and Education: 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Grade Determinations: Minimum qualification requirements for the GS-13 grade level are as follows: (1) Experience. At least one year of experience at the GS-12 grade level that demonstrates the technical competencies described at that level. The competencies (KSAs) required at that level are: (a) Knowledge of VA, NFPA, FDA, NRC, The Joint Commission, and other relevant safety and radiation safety standards. (b) Ability to lead biomedical staff and work on medical equipment if needed to maintain compliant workflow. (c) Knowledge of project management principles required to effectively and efficiently manage multiple, concurrent projects. (d) Skill in communication to interact with clinical, technical and managerial staff. (e) Ability to instruct staff, lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs at the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): (a) Ability to work independently to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within the service. (b) Ability to develop policy; manage medical equipment life-cycle processes; and provide workload analysis in Healthcare Technology Management operations. (c) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled biomedical work operations. *(d) Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; assessments of competency; evaluation of performance; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions. 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). NOTE: The GS-12 and GS-13 KSAs should be reflected in your description of your work experience(s) on your resume. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Preferred Experience: 4 years of VA General BESS experience 2 years or more management and development of service contracts 2 years or more management and development of equipment contracts Purchase card holder experience Proficient in Maximo Prior experience developing standard operating procedures for biomedical equipment technicians 3 years or more of predictive/preventive/corrective maintenance medical equipment program management Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Access, Powerpoint, PowerBi, and other databases Currently has or is eligible to acquire CBET (Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician), or CLES (Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist), or CRES (Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist) certification References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G49 - Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript (displaying a conferred date) 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/.

Contacts

• Address Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Greta Kirby
• Email: [email protected]