Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Supervisory Biomedical Engineer (Clinical) Syracuse, New York
Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities The Chief Healthcare Technology Manager (HTM) Service Chief (Chief HTM) is responsible for the professional and administrative management at a VA Medical Center (VAMC) and university-affiliated hospital. He/she has responsibility for supervising technical staff including Biomedical Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Support Specialists, and other technical staff such as Interns, Trainees and Master's Degree Students. He/she also supervises administrative support staff. Supervisory responsibility includes development of performance standards and conducting performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing training needs, The Chief HTM supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare technology as demonstrated by the following major responsibilities: The Health Technology Manager (HTM) Service Chief conducts a medical equipment and clinical systems management program that meets current requirements of The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes, standards and handbooks as well as VA/VHA requirements. The HTM Service Chief has responsibility for development and management of a complex, professional, highly technical HTM program. The program has direct impact on all services provided by Medical Centers, their outpatient clinics, as well as some services provided by Medical Centers throughout VISN 2. The HTM program must provide safe, reliably maintained medical equipment and clinical systems for the delivery of quality healthcare in a cost-effective manner. The incumbent acts as a leader at a Service Chief level within the VAMC and demonstrates interpersonal skills as an envoy for the VISN 2 HTM Service Line in order to facilitate better relationships and procedures within their Service and with other Services within their VAMC and among the VISN 2 Medical Centers. The Incumbent supervises and manages the local VAMC HTM program. He/she balances the many priorities from the VAMC and VISN. He/she reports directly to the VISN 2 HTM Chief. He/she also serves as a Service Chief and routinely meets with the local VAMC Executive Leadership Team. The incumbent drafts and recommends VAMC policies related to medical equipment/clinical systems. He/she represents the HTM Service and in some cases the VA Medical Center in meetings and conferences. The incumbent advises clinical and administrative staff on medical engineering and clinical systems technology including existing and emerging technology addressing viability, long-term suitability, compatibility, and/or safety while keeping abreast of changes in technology and utilizing information gained in the solution of biomedical engineering problems. The incumbent manages the VAMC recall and safety alert program for medical devices, including medical device incident investigations to assure compliance with patient safety goals, SMDA, and TJC requirements. He/she conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning for complex medical equipment and clinical systems spanning initial concept, installation, and effective implementation. He/she participates at the VAMC and VISN level with capital asset planning. The incumbent analyzes organizational and operational problems and develops timely and economical solutions to meet VAMC and VISN needs. The incumbent is the primary lead person responsible for in depth knowledge and technical support related to clinical/ medical network systems, and the associated duties for medical device protection and cyber security, virtualization, and disaster recovery. He/she has knowledge of medical device interoperability and communication to the electronic health record in VISTA and the future electronic health record system. He/she has knowledge of HL-7 and DICOM. He she supports medical imaging modalities such as, radiology systems which produce ionizing radiation (computerized axial tomography, cardiac cath labs and fluoroscopy systems), nuclear gamma cameras, magnetic resonance imaging systems, GI systems, and dental systems, which provide digital imaging acquisition, local digital archival storage and distribution of medical images to diagnostic and clinical archive servers. The modality devices reside on a high-speed network with fiber optic distribution throughout the hospital and a wide area network connection with support to remote outpatient clinics. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive: Authorized for highly qualified applicants. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required EDRP Authorized: Contact Roseann Pomaranski, roseann.pomaranski@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education or Experience: 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. OR, Certification as a Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) and a Bachelor's Degree not listed above. Certification means having successfully passed a CCE written and oral examination administered by the American College of Clinical Engineering. If appointed with a CCE requirement, the employee must maintain certification throughout employment. The American College of Clinical Engineering determines acceptable educational preparation and degree requirements for CCE eligibility. 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). Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-14 level, Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade and have demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities listed below: i. Ability to manage overall department resources, i.e., finance, space, 14 equipment, supplies, and staffing at a highly complex medical center or at the VISN level. ii. Ability to develop local or VISN policies and/or draft directives related to healthcare technology management. iii. Skill in balancing multiple responsibilities, setting priorities, delegating tasks and projects, meeting multiple deadlines, analyzing organizational problems, and developing and implementing effective solutions. iv. 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. v. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/130, Part II, Appendix G38 - Biomedical Engineer Qualification Standard Physical Requirements: Work involves standing, walking, stooping, bending, climbing stairs, and frequently working in cramped spaces for prolonged periods. The employee continually lifts from 10 to 40 pounds and occasionally objects weighing in excess of 40 pounds. The work also involves coping with complex, persistent demands from a variety of sources that can be regarded as a high pressure 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.