Job 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.

Job Description

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.