Healthcare Facilities Engineer - Projects & Construction

Summary This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston - Texas - under Facilities Management. Summary This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston - Texas - under Facilities Management. 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: 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 OR 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 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 Foreign Education To be creditable - engineering - architecture or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree English Language Proficiency Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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: Healthcare Engineer - GS-7 (Entry level) Experience None beyond the basic requirements Healthcare Engineer - GS-09 Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade OR Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study OR Bachelor's degree plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study - provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the core competencies for GS-09 level assignment Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge of the principles - theories - concepts and practices of the engineering profession Ability to interpret relevant codes - regulations - guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management and to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility Healthcare Engineer - GS-11 Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the following One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering OR Master of Engineering degree - Master of Architecture degree - Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study - plus 1 full year of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study - provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment OR Bachelor's degree plus 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study - provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment KSA's: In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge of either mechanical - electrical - structural - civil or other engineering/architectural principles - practices and their applications in the healthcare environment Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards - codes - policies and regulations - inclusive of - state and local codes Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility - while keeping abreast of changes in such technology and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges Healthcare Engineer - GS-12 Experience One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade KSA's: In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of mechanical - electrical - structural - civil and other engineering/architectural principles - practices and their applications in the healthcare environment Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and related regulatory agency and organization (including - but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC) - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) - etc.) regulations - requirements - guides - policies - procedures - directives - standards and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering Knowledge of construction standards - methods - practices and techniques - materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards Skill in researching and analyzing information - conditions - human factors and projections to make sound engineering and business recommendations and decisions to proactively identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules - regulations and procedures Ability to plan and execute complex - multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work - contract documents and budgets Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions - as well as design and construction firms Preferred Experience: Experience in application of mechanical - electrical - structural - civil - or other engineering/architectural principles - practices - and their applications in the healthcare environment Experience applying healthcare engineering related standards - codes - policies - regulation - inclusive of state and local codes Project Management experience specifically with emphasis on construction projects and building systems Experience in conducting audits and inspections of worksites to assure compliance - prepare reports and findings - devise solutions and implement actions Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-12 Physical Requirements: This position requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers and hands - walking (1 hour) - standing (2 hours) - climbing (use of legs and arms) - both legs required - operation of truck/motor vehicle - near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position performs project planning - produces designs - manages designs - manages construction - and provides construction administration for Minor Construction Projects - Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) Projects - Station Level Projects - and Leases - including all areas and aspects (architectural - electrical - life safety - mechanical - civil - structural - etc.) at an assigned medical center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)'s The position determines the requirements for healthcare projects in relation to the needs of the Healthcare System - inclusive of the parent site - as well as off-site locations under the auspice of the Healthcare System - whether VA owned or leased Project needs are determined for the organization down to the department level based on a broad array of guidelines - standards - regulatory requirements - and mission priorities The position evaluates how to accomplish the requirements of the project and determines the associated risks necessary to complete the construction within the healthcare facility and identify ways to mitigate project risk A unique task of Healthcare Engineer during the construction phase of a project is to minimize the impact to patient care operations - and in many cases - to ensure patients can continue to be cared for in a safe and secure manner due to the inability for the medical center to stop seeing patients during the construction phase of a project The position is responsible for determining what temporary means and methods are necessary to be executed to reduce any risk of danger to patients or staff while a standard of medical care is met for all patients A detailed knowledge of healthcare operations is required to include how utilities and services support healthcare operations for each type of care provided The position plans and designs a phased approach for the means and methods of construction activities to be executed for complex medical construction projects to minimize risk and impact to patients and patient care operations and the daily patient treatment procedures that cannot be impacted without severe patient hazard The position uses independent seasoned engineering judgment in evaluating and performing scheduling and layout of operations - inspection - and surveillance of materials - methods - and equipment used in construction Responsible for reviewing contractor submittals - contractor change order requests - assuring project compliance with drawings and specifications - administering A/E and VA Headquarters review processes - assuring safety practices - and making sound engineering recommendations to appropriate leadership for action Coordinating and overseeing work in a healthcare environment requires the incumbent to have knowledge of complex medical systems and is responsible to coordinate work while keeping patients safe and the medical facility operational The position provides direction and guidance to the contractor for construction within the facility Provides approvals on means and methods performance of work and how it is conducted within a medical environment to ensure impacts of the construction does not impact patient care operation or provides a risk to patients or staff Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm - subject to change based on the needs of the facility Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade) Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 580-01004-F-7 - 580-01005-F-9 - 580-01006-F-11 - 580-00793-F-12 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs