Healthcare Engineer

Full Job Description

This position serves as a Project Engineer that 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 (CBOC)'s.

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.

(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.

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 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.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined above, the following criteria must be met for appointment to the GS12 grade level.

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the basic and experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.

Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and related regulatory agency and organization (including, but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), etc.

regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives, standards and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering.

Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering.

Skill in researching and analyzing information, conditions, human factors and projections to make sound engineering and business recommendations and decisions to proactively identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures.

Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets.

Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed under a variety of conditions at construction sites (indoor, outdoor, dirty, dusty, greasy, hot, damp, etc.) and in an office or shop setting.

Normal safety precautions apply with use of safety shoes and hard hats regularly, and special equipment occasionally.

Incumbent will be required to visit a variety of hospital environments, including general medical and surgical, neuropsychiatry, nursing home care, and research.

There is occasional exposure to high voltage, high noise levels, and the possibility of electrical shock, bums, cuts, and bruises. Major Duties:

Duties: A.

Performs Healthcare Planning/Design Management The position determines the requirements for healthcare projects in relation to the needs of the Healthcare System, inclusive of the parent site, as well as off-site locations under the auspice of the Healthcare System, whether VA owned or leased.

Project needs are determined for the organization down to the department level based on a broad array of guidelines, standards, regulatory requirements and mission priorities.

The position evaluates how to accomplish the requirements of the project and determines the associated risks necessary to complete the construction within the healthcare facility and identify ways to mitigate project risk.

A unique task of a Healthcare Engineer during the construction phase of a project is to minimize the impact to patient care operations, and in many cases, to ensure patients are able to continue to be cared for in a safe and secure manner due to the inability for the medical center to stop seeing patients during the construction phase of a project.

The position is responsible for determining what temporary means and methods are necessary to be executed to reduce any risk of danger to patients or staff while a standard of medical care is met for all patients.

A detailed knowledge of healthcare operations is required to include how utilities and services support healthcare operations for each type of care provided.

The position is responsible for evaluating programs and projects to assure compliance with all environmental, safety and security standards. B.

Manages Healthcare Design and Construction Administration The position uses independent seasoned engineering judgment in evaluating and performing scheduling and layout of operations, inspection, and surveillance of materials, methods, and equipment used in construction.

Responsible for reviewing contractor submittals, contractor changing order requests, assuring project compliance with drawings and specifications, administering A/E and VA Headquarters review processes, assuring safety practices, and making sound engineering recommendations to appropriate leadership for action.

Coordinating and overseeing work in a healthcare environment requires the incumbent to have knowledge of complex medical systems and is responsible to coordinate work while keeping patients safe and the medical facility operational.

The position is responsible for managing and dealing with constantly changing priorities and deadlines based on engineering workload.

Utility and equipment failures must be addressed immediately for continuation of patient care and mission of the medical facility which often disrupts the intended workflow and takes priority for staff to address.

C. Performs Healthcare Construction Management and Post Project Activities The position provides direction and guidance to the contractor for construction within the facility.

Provides approvals on means and methods performance of work and how it is conducted within a medical environment to ensure impacts of the construction does not impact patient care operation or provides a risk to patients or staff.

The position provides training and guidance to the contractor to improve the contractor's ability to work within the medical facility requirements and confinements to better perform the scope of work.

Daily discussions and safety reviews are conducted by the incumbent to ensure the contractor is working within the medical center's difficult environment and requirements to minimize any risk of danger to patients and staff.

This training and guidance provided to the contractor working within the medical facility environment often involves Infection Controls measures to be followed during construction, fire safety, dust mitigation, noise mitigation, vibration mitigation, and any other possible impact to patient care that could be caused by the construction progress of the project.

D.

Medical Infrastructure Planning The position assists with the medical center construction projects, space functional changes, and associated planning with respect to medical technologies and medical-related technologies.

This includes site preparation for medical equipment, station level projects, non-recurring maintenance projects, and minor construction project designs.

Infrastructure planning support often involves conceptual design, as well as very detailed planning activities. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.

Work Schedule subject to change based on the agency needs.

Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 59763F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized