Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy)
What you'd do
The Deputy Supervisory Healthcare Engineer manages diverse engineering programs-including maintenance, safety, utilities, capital planning, and compliance-at the VA Medical Center and CBOCs. This role oversees technical staff, supports research and academic integration, and acts as Chief Engineer as needed, ensuring safe, efficient facility operations in alignment with VA standards.
Major duties
Major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to: Strengthen and enhance healthcare facility engineering and operations. Provide management support and technical expert consultation to the Chief Engineer. Planning, organizing, directing, evaluating, and management process for Facilities Management Service that includes setting qualitative and quantitative standards. 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). Oversees human resources management matters for the services, including development and implementation of succession and workforce plans. Supports the VISN Capital and Energy Engineers in the administration of the programs. Is a member of and routinely participates on VISN and national committees and work groups. Establishes parameters in support of project scope development, ensuring alignment with master plan/strategic capital investment goals and Department objectives, goals, policies and priorities. Creates and supports programs to ensure the healthcare system manages and maintains fire safety equipment, systems, and life safety building features. Participates in discussion of proposed capital projects for the station and makes preliminary designs of major alterations, improvements, and additions to implement the Medical Center programs. Identifies risks associated with highly sophisticated utility systems and the general physical environment. Provides overarching professional engineering services to ensure the appropriate medical equipment and clinical infrastructure is available for the medical mission. Ensure engineering programs, operations, and projects are compliant with VA, federal, state, and local regulations, codes (e.g., NFPA, OSHA, Joint Commission), and standards of practice. Responsible for maintaining effective relations with local Government agencies, Labor Unions, Professional Engineering Societies, Affiliated Universities, Research Program Leaders and other interested organizations as required. Maintaining the precisely controlled research laboratory environment, where advanced equipment and instrumentation is utilized in conducting VA Research Programs. Draft, review, and update engineering policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and compliance checklists to meet internal and external requirements. Develop and deliver compliance training and technical briefings to engineering staff and other relevant personnel across the organization. Provides for the budgeting and financial management for FMS. This includes budget formulation, justification, and execution; financial management; and financial reporting. Research and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements related to all areas of the facility and all facets of FMS. Development and implementation of the Medical Center's capital improvement program. 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. Prepares correspondence, technical reports, estimates, fact sheets, status reports, and schedules as required to complete project assignments. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7 AM - 3:30 PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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: May be available at supervisory discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55127-0
What you need to qualify
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 Exam 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 from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy), GS-13 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of the management of overall healthcare system resources, (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing). Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities. Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives and managers. Skill in balancing priorities, delegating tasks and meeting multiple competing deadlines. Skill in interpreting broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapting/applying them to specific compliant programs at the local healthcare system. Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions. Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations. Ability to anticipate, develop and implement strategies in meeting the healthcare system's short term and long-term strategic goals in a highly fluid environment. Ability to ensure compliance with healthcare industry standards and regulatory agency and organization (including but not limited to TJC, OSHA, NFPA, etc.), regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering. Ability to interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs. 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). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. This vacancy is posted above the full performance level at the grade of GS-13. 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 lighted, heated, and ventilated. The Chief Engineer 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.
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