Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

As a senior-level Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) within the National TeleCritical Care program office, you will serve as a recognized national authority in medical equipment and systems. In this key advisory role, you will provide expert guidance to VISN and national-level staff, overseeing and supporting complex medical systems across multiple facilities, VISNs, and the broader VHA network.

**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. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education, Experience Requirement, or Certification. You must meet at least one of the requirements below: Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field; OR Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; OR Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship, OR Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM). Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment. 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. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standards are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and assignment held including positive education and certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but they may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions. 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 retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re- entry to the occupation. Grade Determination. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified. Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-14. Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in communicating technical knowledge across multiple levels of an organization. Skill in analyzing data to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity. Skill in developing timely and economical solutions to technical issues affecting multiple sites of care. Skill in coordinating work across multiple sites of care such as ambulatory centers, medical centers, and health care networks. Skill in implementing policies pertaining to medical equipment and clinical systems. Skill in applying standards for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Assignment. For all assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must be of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and range of variety, as described in this standard at the specific grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Employees in this assignment are non-supervisory and are found at the VISN or national HTM program office level and support medical equipment and clinical systems that span across a VISN or VHA. They provide mentorship, training, and technical and program support to HTM staff across VHA. BESSs develop and execute a VISN or national HTM training program, which includes identifying gaps, coordinating, and facilitating training, and identifying resources. They lead VISN or national large-scale projects and workgroups often involving cross-functional teams with multiple stakeholders. BESSs develop national or VISN policies, procedures, and guidance. They consult and partner with VISN leadership, VHA, VA program offices, and external organizations. BESSs identify and analyze systemic trends in medical equipment and clinical systems. BESSs recommend and oversee strategic remedial action that may impact multiple facilities or VISNs. They advise and support field HTM programs in resolution of technology issues and support facilities in the implementation of a HTM program that meets all applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-1601-14. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.