Lead Interior Designer

Summary

This position functions as the Lead Interior Designer for the VA St. Louis Healthcare System (VASTLHCS). The position is responsible for assisting with planning, implementation and operational management of a complete Interior Design program for the VA Saint Louis Major Projects Service. This position will plan and coordinate all activities related to Interior Design with other Major Projects Service & VA staff, contracted support agencies, and commercial vendors.

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Duties

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Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serves as a Team Lead, advisor and consultant on a diverse spectrum of interior design and major/super project functions within the VA St. Louis Healthcare System (VASTLHCS).
• Acts as a coach and facilitates the selection and application of problem-solving techniques or work methods. Assists team in identifying solutions, setting priorities, and organizing to accomplish the work.
• Maintains administrative reference material, policies, procedures and written instructions from the supervisor, maintains current knowledge of each to answer questions from project members.
• Develops a schedule of short- and long-range interior improvement projects for the facility through the 5-year interior design plan and other programs to identify future project needs.
• Acts as technical representative for design and finish specification matters and manages the facility furniture program.
• Provides technical expertise to coworkers and contractors - routinely coordinating with engineers, architects, and other designers to ensure compliance with VA regulations and facility design criteria.
• Acts as, or works with, Contracting Officer's Representative on assigned projects (Majors/Super, Minors, NRM, CSI and Leased), furnishings, window treatments, patient cubicle curtains, wall coverings, floor coverings, wall art, lighting, ceiling treatments, casework, and other interior design-related procurement packages.
• Provides plans, consultation, advice, specifications, and designs for spaces involved in new construction and/or renovation; reviews Architect/Engineer submittals for compliance with VA regulations and facility design criteria.
• Works with direct supervisor to prepare multi-million dollar interior design budgetary requirements for major/super and minor construction projects.
• Coordinates the installation of new signage and ensures the efficacy of signage/directional graphics in areas where new and existing intersect.
• Participates in planning and coordinating moves with move team, utility shutdowns, phases, and other requirements for construction projects. Advises and implements plan on adequacy and adaptability of a cohesive space including furniture layout, general size, fit and code compliance.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday from 7:00am - 3:30pm

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Lead Interior Designer/ PD101230

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: Work can vary from seated at a desk in front of a computer to extensive walking throughout the facility/grounds (interior and exterior) and visitation to construction sites and several off-site facilities. Work may require some lifting (

• 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/17/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement : Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Individual Occupational Requirement:

Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study interior design or other field that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in interior design, interior architecture, or interior environmental design; or passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. OR

Experience: Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that required the performance of work concerned with the design and alteration of interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs such as: Identifying, researching, and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment. Performing services relative to interior spaces, including programming, design analysis, space planning and aesthetics, using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components, building codes, equipment, materials, and furnishings. Preparing drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces in order to enhance and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Coordinating and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering disciplines within the interior context. Managing projects, developing cost estimates, evaluating bid proposals, reviewing construction documents, participating in on-site construction visits, conducting pre- and post-occupancy evaluations, developing standards for efficient space management, etc.

GS-12 Grade requirement:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-11, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Serves as a Team Lead, advisor and consultant on a diverse spectrum of interior design; Develops a schedule of short- and long-range interior improvement projects for the facility through the 5-year interior design plan and other programs to identify future project need; Provides technical expertise to coworkers and contractors - routinely coordinating with engineers, architects, and other designers to ensure compliance; Provides plans, consultation, advice, specifications, and designs for spaces involved in new construction and/or renovation; reviews Architect/Engineer submittals for compliance; Works with direct supervisor to prepare multi-million dollar interior design budgetary requirements for major/super and minor construction projects.

Preferred Experience: Have several years of VA healthcare design experience or equivalent large scale project work, with a strong command of VA standards, codes, and technical information library requirements. Should be skilled in full cycle design development, from concept through activation, and experienced in coordinating complex multidisciplinary projects, managing FF&E and finish standards, and ensuring compliance with VA regulatory, safety, and accreditation criteria.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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:

Additional information

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

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.

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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.