The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is currently recruiting for one GS-5 target 11 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist-BESSs.
Applicants pending educational requirements completion may be referred & tentatively selected but can't be hired until all requirements are met Basic Requirements US Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens English Language Proficiency Must be able to speak & write English Education, Experience or Certification Associates or higher degree in 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 electronic systems repair & maintenance or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience OR Completion of biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management, HTM certificate program that included internship or apprenticeship OR Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that didn't include internship AND 1 year creditable experience OR Hold or 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 certification maintenance isn't required throughout VHA employment Grandfathering Provision Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard 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: 1) 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 2) 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 3) 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 Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials Grade Determinations Following criteria must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements for employment GS-5 Experience/Education None beyond basic requirements GS-7 Experience At least 1 year experience equivalent to GS-5 grade level Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities, KSAs Candidate must demonstrate all following KSAs in addition to above experience 1) Knowledge of physics, anatomy & physiology 2) Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital & microprocessor theory 3) Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers & tachometers 4) Knowledge of basic networking concepts, e.g. computer & server hardware and software functionality, information technologies & computer virus protection software, available software patches & upgrades, and information security tools, e.g. Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems & McAfee 5) Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment & clinical systems in computerized maintenance management system 6) Ability to learn equipment operating & maintenance procedures GS-9 Experience At least 1 year experience equivalent to GS-7 grade level Demonstrated KSAs Candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience 1) Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List, ACL, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, TCP/IP & Virtual Local Area Networks, VLAN 2) Knowledge of computer & server hardware & software functionality including virus protection, operating system patches & upgrades & information security tools 3) Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions & formulas 4) Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers & tachometers 5) Ability to perform equipment maintenance & operating procedures GS-11 Experience One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade Demonstrated KSAs Candidate must demonstrate all following KSAs plus above experience 1) Knowledge of standards including National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, Food & Drug Administration, FDA, The Joint Commission, TJC & the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, AAMI for safe operation of medical equipment & clinical systems 2) Skill in using test & calibration equipment including digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tachometers & Local Area Network, LAN analyzers 3) Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings & wiring diagrams 4) Skill in applying networking principles, e.g. Access Control List, ACL, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, TCP/IP & Virtual Local Area Networks, VLAN 5) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment & clinical system interfaces 6) Ability to maintain medical computers & software 7) Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment & clinical systems Preferred Experience At least 2 years of Hospital Setting as a BESS. If certified please provide CBET certification. Reference Please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for more information on this qualification standard Vacancy full performance level is GS-11. Applicants may be selected for grades GS-5 to GS-11 for this vacancy Physical Requirements Subject to stressful situations Must be able to be calm & professional Maybe exposed to noxious chemicals, contagious diseases, radiation & infections Continual exposure to hazardous conditions involving lethal operating voltages, rotating machinery & high pressures/vacuums Requires constant adherence to safe work habits & proper use of personal protective equipment Required to walk, sit & stand for long time periods Frequent benchwork requires precision & good concentration w/ proper hand-eye coordination Some climbing & working on ladders Must be able to lift objects up to 50 lbs Must escort on site contractors for equipment installations, often climbing several flights of stairs & coordinating between buildings Work is primarily inside constructed areas w/ heating & ventilation but for safety reasons some areas don't have heat &/or ventilation May be exposed to extremely high electrical voltages volts & currents which when not properly addressed could result in severe injury up to & including death May receive bruises/burns caused by electric shock & hot components May be exposed to patient bodily fluids May be required to work on equipment used in surgical operations requiring proper attire & cleanliness Qualification Requirements continued in Additional Information section
The full performance level of the Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist-BESS duties include, but aren't limited to the following: Manages the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems. Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action. Performs incoming inspections and planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). Responds to and remediates hazard alerts, recall notifications, and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all actions in the appropriate system. Monitors system backups, ensures network connectivity, mitigates cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and maintains clinical systems. Utilizes test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Manages projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems. Provides customer support to staff, evaluates issues and needs, responds with solutions, and keeps customers abreast of status. Educates staff on the safe operation and user-level maintenance of medical equipment and clinical systems. Serves as a Contacting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or purchase card holder. Develops documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services. Manages, monitors, and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies. Complies with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Provides guidance and mentorship to expand professional knowledge and enhance technical skillsets. Maintains and enhances knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am - 4pm, work hours are somewhat negotiable, however position is subject to on-call/call backs during evenings, nights, weekends & holidays as needed to support operations of a 24/7 facility & its associated CBOCs. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD51730,51731,51732,50638-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized