Healthcare Engineer

Full Job Description

The position serves as a Project Engineer at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System.

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.

Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.).

Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

English Language Proficiency: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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. (Transcripts Required) -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.

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 Grade Requirements: Specialized Experience, GS-7: Experience.

None beyond the basic requirements. Specialized Experience GS-9: Must possess at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-7.

-OR- Must possess a Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study.

(Transcripts Required) -OR- Must possess a Bachelor's degree, 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.

(Transcripts Required) In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-9 level, do you possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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.

Specialized Experience GS-11: Must possess at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-9.

-OR- Must possess a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering, or a related field of engineering.

(Transcripts Required) -OR- Must possess a Master of Engineering degree, Master of Architecture degree, Master of Science degree in Engineering, or a related field of study, PLUS one 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.

(Transcripts Required) -OR- Must possess a Bachelor's degree, PLUS three 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.

(Transcripts Required) In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-11 level, do you possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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.

Specialized Experience GS-12 (Full Performance Level): Must possess at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11.

In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-12 level, do you possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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 regulations and standards.

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.

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/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-12. Major Duties:

Major duties (Full performance level): 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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 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.