Bio Equip Support Spec

Summary The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is currently recruiting for two GS-5 target 11 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist-BESSs. Learn more about this agency 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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 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 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 More than 2 years clinical BESS experience in a hospital setting 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 Must possess & maintain valid state driver's license to provide coverage, repair & transport biomedical equipment for ECHCS facility & associated CBOCs Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, can be unofficial transcripts, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, name of degree received. 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. Read more Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.