Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Assistant Chief of Engineer - Detail/Temp Promotion NTE 1 year)

Summary

This position serves as the Deputy (Assistant Chief), Engineering Service as the full alter ego of the Chief with responsibility for the professional Engineering programs such as Maintenance and Repair, Utility Plant Operations, Energy Management and Conservation Program, Safety, Fire Prevention, Industrial Hygiene, Capital Planning, and Construction Project Management section at a multi-faceted and affiliated VA Medical Center, including outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

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Duties

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This is being offered as a Detail/Temporary Promotion Not-To-Exceed (NTE) 120 days. The Detail/Temporary Promotion may be extended up to 1 year, travel and lodging expenses covered. Manager/supervisor approval is required for this detail.

Duties of this position includes but are not limited to:

• This position is responsible for the planning, organizing, directing, evaluating, and management process for the Engineering Service that includes setting qualitative and quantitative standards.
• Develops and provides the Executive Leadership Team and the clinical staff information on the methods, techniques, and procedures necessary to integrate the Engineering, Maintenance, Biomedical, Capital Management, and other Engineering programs into the mission of the Medical Center.
• Oversees the Joint Commission (TJC) Environment of Care Programs for Utility Systems Management, Safety, Life Safety, and Medical Equipment Management for both this Medical Center and all Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
• In the absence of the Chief Engineer, the Assistant Chief has the full authority to act on behalf of the Chief Engineer.
• Responsible for strengthening and enhancing healthcare facility engineering and operations.
• The Assistant Chief Engineer is a key managerial advisor reporting directly to the Chief Engineer.
• Participates as technical advisor in all or almost all significant management planning, policy, and decision-making actions of the Medical Center except those of a primarily medical nature.
• Involved with long and short-range planning, establishing policy, and budgeting for the Medical Center, as well as for all Engineering Service programs.
• Provides management support and technical expert consultation to the Chief Engineer for all issues relative to the areas listed above.
• The Assistant Chief has significant decision-making authority, responsibility, and accountability on issues affecting all of Engineering Service and collaborates with operations and program managers to ensure integrated goals and priorities for Engineering Service are met.
• Creates and supports programs to ensure the healthcare system manages and maintains fire safety equipment, systems, and life safety building features.
• Responsible for implementing, managing and monitoring a comprehensive Safety Program as defined by Department policy and meeting the Safety and Life Safety requirements of both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Joint Commission most recent edition of the Joint Commission Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (AMH).
• Identifies risks associated with highly sophisticated utility systems and the general physical environment and periodically reviews major utility systems and associated equipment to assure compliance with regulations, operating standards, and ability to meet medical center needs.
• Provides overarching professional engineering services to ensure the appropriate medical equipment and clinical infrastructure is available for the medical mission.
• May consult with medical school officials to assure that state-of-the-art equipment and facilities are provided, maintained, and modified to meet changing needs characterized by a medical teaching environment.
• Provides for the budgeting and financial management for Engineering Service. This includes budget formulation, justification, and execution; financial management; and financial reporting.
• Maintains awareness of and information about the overall status of financial resources for the office in order to react to changing situations with timely recommendations and participates with management in defending the budget before senior level management.
• Researches and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements related to all areas of the facility and all facets of Engineering Service.
• Coordinates and oversees scheduling and layout of operations, inspection and surveillance of materials, methods, and equipment used in construction and renovation managed by subordinate engineers and engineering technicians.
• Collaborates with the Chief Engineer, program managers, members of professional guilds, and others as appropriate, but maintains final authority in establishing organizational structure and guidelines, performance standards, work review and reporting requirements, and defines the line of authority and supervisory controls essential to carry out the mission of the Engineering Service.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Work schedule subject to change based on the agency needs.

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 61574F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• Education. (1) Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include, but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering.

OR

• (2) Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree. Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score. OR (3) Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico

OR

• (3) Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico.

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: In addition to the basic requirements outlined above, the following criteria must be met for appointment to the GS13 grade level.

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the basic and experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of data analysis techniques related to managing workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the area of responsibility.
• Knowledge related to the management of overall department resources, (i.e., finances space, equipment, supplies, schedules, and staffing) at the local level.
• Knowledge of the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, training and development, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships, leading, and dealing with employees, team leaders, labor representatives and managers.
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations.
• Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare engineering management.
• Ability to recognize and assess evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions

Preferred Experience: 3 years or more experience of current and evolving concepts and principles of general engineering and maintenance departments.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit ;br>
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed under a variety of conditions at construction sites (indoor, outdoor, dirty, dusty, greasy, hot, damp, etc.) and in an office or shop setting. Normal safety precautions apply with use of safety shoes and hard hats regularly, and special equipment occasionally. Incumbent will be required to visit a variety of hospital environments, including general medical and surgical, neuropsychiatry, nursing home care, and research. There is occasional exposure to high voltage, high noise levels, and the possibility of electrical shock, bums, cuts, and bruises.

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: 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: ;br>
Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

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.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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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.