Interior Designer

Full Job Description

The Interior Designer is responsible for planning, implementation and operational management of a complete Interior Design program for a VA organization including Space Management and Activations duties.

This requires position to plan and coordinate the activities of other individuals, commercial vendors and to serve as liaison with same.

Critical information needed to accomplish the above is provided by other individuals and requires significant manipulation prior to use.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/11/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Occupational Requirements: The Interior Design Series has Individual Occupational Requirements that must be meet.

Failure to document these Individual Occupational Requirements on your resume will result in non-referral to the hiring manager.

You must have one of the following: Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- interior design or other field that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in interior design, interior architecture, or interior environmental design; or passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination.

OR, Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that required the performance of work concerned with the design and alteration of interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs such as: Identifying, researching, and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment.

Performing services relative to interior spaces, including programming, design analysis, space planning and aesthetics, using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components, building codes, equipment, materials, and furnishings.

Preparing drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces in order to enhance and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Coordinating and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering disciplines within the interior context.

Managing projects, developing cost estimates, evaluating bid proposals, reviewing construction documents, participating in on-site construction visits, conducting pre- and post-occupancy evaluations, developing standards for efficient space management, etc.

Grade Determination: In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements listed above, you must meet one of the following for the GS-11 Interior Design occupation.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Identifying, researching, and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment.

Performing services relative to interior spaces, including programming, design analysis, space planning and aesthetics, using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components, building codes, equipment, materials, and furnishings.

Preparing drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces in order to enhance and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Coordinating and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering disciplines within the interior context.

Managing projects, developing cost estimates, evaluating bid proposals, reviewing construction documents, participating in on-site construction visits, conducting pre- and post-occupancy evaluations, developing standards for efficient space management, etc.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B.

or J.D. in a related field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application.

Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have a combination of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first year or 18 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements.

NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Contract Administration Customer Service Database Management Systems Design Oral Communication Project Management Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work can vary from seated at a desk in front of a computer to extensive walking throughout the facility/grounds (interior and exterior) and visitation to construction sites and several off-site facilities.

Work may require some lifting (<50lbs.), light furniture moving/rearranging, carrying heavy and bulky catalogs/artwork/samples etc.

and travel/driving as needed to showrooms, furniture dealers and satellite facilities. Dexterity is required related to duties performed in drafting, sketching and writing.

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/.

Major Duties:

Major Duties: The Interior Designer plans and implements a comprehensive Interior Design Program which includes providing complete, from concept to installation, interior design services for the organization to include satellite facilities.

Duties include performing and managing work related to the design of interior environments to promote employee productivity, health, and welfare, and/or the health and welfare of the public.

The Interior Designer provides technical expertise to coworkers and contractors and routinely coordinates with engineers, architects, and other designers to ensure compliance with VA regulations and facility design criteria.

Acts as a technical representative for design and finish specifications matters and manages the facility furniture program.

Influences design of new construction from conception through activation by an in-depth knowledge of use requirements and availability of resources to fulfill these requirements; ensures that appropriately designed finish plans are formulated and comply with commercial building codes, safety and environmental guidelines and the VA master specification for all renovation and new construction projects.

The Interior Designer plans, specifics, writes procurement packages, supervises installation and acts as the contracting officer's representative for all furniture procurements within the facility.

The Interior Designer works with direct supervisor to create a 5-year furniture replacement program for the facility.

The Interior Designer provides plans, consultation, advice, specifications, and designs for virtually all spaces involved in new construction and/or renovation; reviews Architect/Engineer submittals for compliance with VA regulations and facility design criteria.

Acts as a technical representative for design and finish specifications matters.

Influences design of new construction from conception through activation by an in-depth knowledge of use requirements and availability of furnishings to fulfill these requirements; ensures that appropriately designed color schemes are formulated for all renovation and new construction projects.

Works with direct supervisor to coordinate and maintains a schedule of short and long range interior improvement projects for the facility through the 5-year interior design plan and other programs to identify existing and future project needs.

This includes working within the operating budget, preparation of floor plans and space layouts, finish schedules, presentation boards and submittals, and accurate cost estimates.

In addition, the interior designer works to create a 5-year furniture replacement program for facility. This program determines upcoming priorities for the facility furniture program.

Acts as Contracting Officer's Representative for all furnishings, window treatments, patient cubicle curtains, wall coverings, floor coverings, wall art, lighting, ceiling treatments, casework, and all other interior design-related accoutrements from origination to installation.

Selects items based upon: patient, visitor, and staff needs; VA and facility standards, infection prevention and control requirements, healthcare environment needs, General Services Administration (GSA) contract sources; and available resources, while meeting VA socio-economic goals and acquisitions regulations in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation(VAAR) Develops project timelines to ensure orders are placed in accordance with Procurement Action Lead Times (PALT) deadlines to ensure timely delivery without impact to construction deadliness and activation timelines.

Works with direct supervisor to determine priorities and utilize an annual interior design budget in recurring funds and budgeting projects that may involve millions of dollars in non-recurring funds.

This includes verifying receipt of orders and coordinating installation.

In addition to fixed annual budget and non-recurring funds for projects, incumbent prepares interior design budgetary requirements for major and minor construction projects, for supplemental and future funding by VHA.

The position is responsible for prioritizing needs at the medical center and preparing budgets and justifications to obtain funds needed by for the Interior Design program. Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD220230 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized