Supervisory Healthcare Engineer-Assistant Chief

The Supervisory Healthcare Engineer serves as the Assistant Chief, Engineering Service as the full alter ego of the Chief with responsibility for the professional Engineering programs such as Maintenance and Repair, Utility Plant Operations, Energy Management and Conservation Program, Capital Planning, and Construction Project Management section at a multi-faceted and affiliated VA Medical Center, including outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/26/2025.

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. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• 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:
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 the management of overall healthcare system resources, (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing).
(b) Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities.
(c) Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives and managers.
(d) Skill in balancing priorities, delegating tasks and meeting multiple competing deadlines.
(e) Skill in interpreting broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapting/applying them to specific compliant programs at the local healthcare system.
(f) Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions.
(g) Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
(j) Ability to interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs.

References: VA Handbook 5005/150, Part II, Appendix G72. Healthcare Engineer Qualification Standard, GS-0801, Veterans Health Administration, March 18, 2022.
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.

Physical Requirements: Project inspections require a great deal of walking, climbing, standing and bending. Inspections may also require carrying of moderate loads such as tools and measuring equipment common to the position

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Responsibilities:

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as key managerial advisor reporting directly to the Chief Engineer.
• Acts in the full authority and capacity of the Chief in his or her absence, and is relied on for authoritative advice on all aspects of engineering matters.
• Provides management support and technical expert consultation to the Chief Engineer.
• Plans, organizes, directs, evaluates, and management process for the Engineering Service that includes setting qualitative and quantitative standards.
• 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.
• Serves as a member of and routinely participates on VISN and national committees and work groups.
• Supports the Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) process as part of the Medical Center planning team.
• Creates and supports programs to ensure the healthcare system manages and maintains fire safety equipment, systems, and life safety building features.
• Identifies risks associated with highly sophisticated utility systems and the general physical environment.
• Provides professional engineering direction to ensure compliance with legislative and accrediting requirements at the Medical Center.
• 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.
• Provides for the budgeting and financial management for Engineering Service.
• Researches and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements related to all areas of the facility and all facets of Engineering Service.
• Plans and/or accomplishes special projects.
• Assists the VISN offices and other engineers by providing technical advice and input on a wide range of engineering issues, including the Strategic Capital Investment Plan, Capital Asset Inventory, Capital Asset Resource Survey, Deferred Maintenance, management of an engineering department, and a myriad of engineering related topics.
• Develops and maintains performance monitoring, tracking and reporting systems to meet program performance standards as defined at the national, VISN level, and medical center level.
• Develops and implements the Medical Center's capital improvement program.
• Develops technical data regarding materials, sizes, dimensions, quantities, and costs to be incorporated in formal specifications.
• Prepares correspondence, technical reports, estimates, fact sheets, status reports, and schedules as required to complete project assignments.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Healthcare Engineer-Assistant Chief/PD00449F

Salary : $160,221