Supervisory Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Veterans Health Administration•Houston, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) works in the Healthcare Technology Management department within Facilities Management Service at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The facility provides specialty inpatient and outpatient care that may be delivered at multiple sites. The position supports the medical equipment management program and, in addition to full-performance-level duties, exercises supervisory and personnel-management responsibilities. The role oversees the lifecycle management of the facility’s medical equipment and clinical systems and collaborates with clinical and administrative departments, service lines, executive leadership, and other VA levels as needed. The incumbent develops and implements policies and procedures, maintains and evaluates the medical equipment management program, monitors performance metrics, and initiates improvement activities. Supervisory duties include assessing staff competencies, planning training, managing performance, recognizing exceptional work, addressing performance and conduct issues, recruiting and selecting qualified staff, retaining talent, and succession planning. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and may change based on facility needs. The position is onsite at the VA medical center; telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and is full performance level GS-13.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Meet one of the basic qualification pathways: an associate or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering; an associate or higher degree in electronics, information technology, or non-biomedical engineering plus one year of creditable experience; completion of a qualifying DOD biomedical equipment technician training program; completion of qualifying DOD electronic-systems or information-technology repair and maintenance training plus one year of creditable experience; completion of a biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program with internship or apprenticeship; completion of such a certificate program without internship plus one year of creditable experience; or holding or having held CBET, CRES, CLES, or CHTM certification.
At least one year of experience at the GS-12 level demonstrating the technical competencies described at that level.
Demonstrated skill in managing workflow and directing others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
Demonstrated skill in developing policies for oversight of medical equipment and clinical systems.
Demonstrated skill in managing interpersonal relationships among employees, team leaders, and managers.
Demonstrated skill in applying safe-operation standards for medical equipment and clinical systems, including NFPA, FDA, NRC, TJC, and AAMI standards.
Demonstrated ability to supervise subordinate staff, including planning, organizing, delegating, directing, controlling, and reviewing work and performance.
Demonstrated ability to provide guidance on multiple types of medical equipment and clinical systems.
Demonstrated ability to analyze data to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity.
Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and comply with the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must complete required background/security investigation and onboarding requirements; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
Must provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; beginning May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID-compliant state licenses or identification cards are not acceptable for this purpose.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
May be required to submit an education transcript when relying on education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
Must be registered with Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.

Responsibilities

Oversee, direct, and manage the lifecycle of the facility’s medical equipment and clinical systems.
Collaborate with departments, service lines, clinical and administrative staff, and executive leadership at the medical center, VISN, and national levels as needed.
Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with established standards and regulations.
Establish and maintain the medical equipment management program and complete annual evaluations of its effectiveness.
Establish and monitor metrics and initiate performance-improvement activities.
Define, evaluate, and enhance subordinate staff competencies for their respective roles.
Develop individual and departmental training plans to address staff and departmental competency gaps.
Develop, deliver, and evaluate subordinate staff performance plans.
Recognize staff for exceptional performance.
Address performance problems and conduct issues in accordance with labor agreements, human resources guidance, and policies.
Request and develop recruitment packages for open or vacant positions.
Screen and interview applicants, conduct reference checks, and select qualified candidates.
Use available resources to retain talent and develop and implement succession planning.
Independently operate a government vehicle and provide a clean driving-record report during pre-employment.