Job Summary

This position functions as a supervisor within the Facilities Management Service (FMS), overseeing the Healthcare Engineer (Medical Equipment Planner/Architect) Team within the Facility Design (FD) Section of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS), including its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

Job Description

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by 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. (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. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time; 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. 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. Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lit, heated, and ventilated. The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites. English Language Proficiency. Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GS-13, Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of data analysis techniques related to managing workload, quality, performance and productivity within the area of responsibility.(b) Knowledge related to the management of overall department resources, (i.e., finances space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing) at the local level. (c) 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. (d) Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships, leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, labor representatives and managers. (e) 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. (f) Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare engineering management. (g) Ability to recognize and assess evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions. Assignment: For all supervisory assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, range of variety and be performed by the incumbent as a major duty at least 25% of the time. The incumbent must supervise staff for at least 25% of the time, administratively and technically at the full performance grade level or below. At this level, Supervisory Healthcare Engineers are assigned at the facility level, supervising professional engineers and other support positions at GS-13 equivalent and below. Supervisory Healthcare Engineers exercise the full range of supervisory responsibility to include development of performance standards and performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions; and identification of continuing training needs, etc. They provide complex professional engineering advice to peers, subordinates and/or non-professional administrators/managers. They review or direct the review of technical plans, specifications and analyses of design as submitted by subordinates. Supervisory Healthcare Engineers provide professional advice to improve such plans, specifications and analyses. They direct necessary changes and furnish assistance as required. Preferred Experience: Experience supervising multi-discipline teams and project managers to accomplish design, medical equipment acquisition, and activation objectives of a large hospital and remote clinics. Expert knowledge of organizational structure, lean processes, Service Improvement Model (SIM), standard work development, federal labor management, and federal purchase regulations. Expert-level knowledge and experience analyzing a wide rate of complex and unique problems arising in hospital construction, contracting, personnel management, and complex planning studies, and presenting assessment and proposed solutions to senior management. Completion of Level II Federal Acquisition Certification in Program and Project Management (FAC-P/PM), VA Facility Engineer Construction (FE-C) and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) certification is required. Expert-level knowledge and experience in general engineering and architectural concepts, principles, and practices applicable to the full range of construction, and extensive in-depth knowledge of a full range of medical equipment. Expert-level knowledge of contract law and contract administration principles as they relate to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) regarding design and construction contracts. Experience leading and directing interdisciplinary teams, and resolving complex policy issues, construction problems, customer service issues, and design details. Skill in computer programs and software including Microsoft Windows and Office Suite, Microsoft Project, PowerPoint, AutoCAD, BIM, Revit, Attainia, and other modeling software. Licensed Engineer or Architect. Experience in supervision, budgeting, design, construction, and activations of commercial buildings and projects. References: VA Handbook 5005/150, Part II, Appendix G72. HEALTHCARE ENGINEER QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0801, Veterans Health Administration, March 18, 2022. Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lit, heated, and ventilated. The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites. The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required, e.g, walking standing, climbing ladders, stooping, kneeling, and carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.