Healthcare Engineer-Project Engineer

Summary

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.

Qualifications

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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
• 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
• Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time
• 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
• NOTE: 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 as outlined in paragraph 3.b
• of this appendix
• English Language Proficiency: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: Healthcare Engineer - GS-07 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment: At the entry level - Healthcare Engineers serve in a career development position - performing under close supervision of a supervisor or qualified individual who reviews and ensures the employee meets competency requirements
• At the entry level - they perform general healthcare engineering assignments to gain knowledge and experience necessary to support engineering operations - project management and compliance
• Developmental assignments include - but are not limited to - assessing healthcare facility programs and making recommendations to assure compliance with relevant regulations - guidelines and standards
• applying engineering and code related knowledge to support the operational engineering requirements of the healthcare system
• and preparing material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to the supervisor
• 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 as outlined in paragraph 3.b OR Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) 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
• *In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Assignment: At the developmental level 1 - Healthcare Engineers receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• Employees complete technical assignments in the engineering field as assigned by senior Healthcare Engineers and may be required to rotate through - and participate in - the operations of other hospital services
• At the GS-9 grade level - employees function in a developmental capacity with oversight by a supervisor for more complex assignments
• 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 as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1)
• OR Master of Engineering degree - Master of Architecture degree - Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) - 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 as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) 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
• *In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Assignment: At developmental level 2 - Healthcare Engineers function on a semi-independent basis with limited oversight by senior Healthcare Engineers
• They conduct audits and inspections of worksites to assure compliance - prepare reports and findings - devise solutions and implement corrective actions with limited oversight
• They perform project management related to the healthcare setting with limited oversight
• Requirements continue in Education section below.
  
  

Duties

• Duties will vary by grade - but at the GS-12 level: The position provides engineering support to the assigned healthcare system and is responsible for maintaining construction specifications and drawings - maintaining technical reference library of codes - standards - and other regulations which are applicable to the engineering construction industries Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - and others
• The position serves as a healthcare engineering advisor - engineer consultant - engineer designer - contract administrator - project manager - construction coordinator - and instructor during the design and construction of all projects assigned
• The position is responsible for providing healthcare engineering support to all assigned projects
• The position is responsible for performing the duties of a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on professional design and construction projects - training service staff on technical issues and assisting the service staff on the completion of technical and administrative issues regarding infrastructure related operations of the medical facility
• The position serves as resident and program engineer consisting of the planning - design - and overseeing of major healthcare system projects
• oversees Professional Architecture/Engineering (A/E) and Construction contracts to ensure the contractor is in compliance with all contractual requirements - healthcare regulations and codes - specifications and schedules are met in accordance with the government's requirements for VA owned and leased facilities
• The position maintains COR certification to oversee the administration of Facility Engineering Service's Architect/Engineer and Construction Contracts
• The position supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare engineering as demonstrated by the following major responsibilities: Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning and design for the medical facility spanning initial strategic planning - concept development - design - construction - and effective implementation of complex buildings - utilities - and medical support systems
• Manages healthcare engineering project design and administers construction in accordance with VA policies and procedures - VA Design Guides - VA Design Manuals - VA Master Specifications and related industry codes and standards
• Performs healthcare engineering project construction management and post project activities while ensuring continuity of building and utility services for medical facility operations
• Assists in the provision of a continuing education program for clinical staff and maintenance personnel addressing the principles and application of building and utility systems in the delivery of health care
• This includes a curriculum that addresses the safe and effective use of medical gases - emergency power - ventilation - and other healthcare infrastructure related technology
• This requires skill to effectively communicate - both orally and in writing - with a wide variety of individuals - including technical and professional clinical staff - to communicate technical information
• Assists in development and implementation of the environment of care program that meets current Joint Commission - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - NFPA - and VA requirements - particularly as it relates to construction safety and infection control
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
• Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station: 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: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized