Interior Designer

Full Job Description

Interior Designer is responsible for the planning and implementation of a complete interior design program for the Engineering Service, VAMC Lexington, Kentucky.

The scope of the existing areas under the care and responsibility of the incumbent is over 1.465 million gross square feet on 150 acres at two division, Leestown and Cooper Divisions and (4) Community Based Out-reach Clinics (CBOC's).

The Interior Design would be a direct report to the Office of the Chief, Engineering Service.

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

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-09. 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: (1.) Identifying, researching, and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment.

(2.) 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.

(3.) 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.

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

(5.) 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-09 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.

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: The work is partially sedentary, although some physical effort may be required when moving furniture or pulling modular product for installation.

The work involves regular walking, bending, climbing and occasionally crawling in or around the facility and construction sites.

Work hours can vary from the normal schedule depending upon the circumstances surrounding project performance or building management system operation which can entail night, weekend, and/or extended daily work hours.

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:

Primary Duties Incumbent is a consultant, advisor, planner and designer of all spaces in new and/or renovated construction program beginning with the earliest drawings provided by Architects, Engineers and/or contracted consultants.

Influences design of new construction from conception through activation by in-depth knowledge of user requirements and availability of furnishings to satisfy these needs.

Develops and maintains a comprehensive resource library of interior design literature.

This library will consist of GSA Federal Supply Schedules, manufacturer catalogs and product samples of carpet, wall coverings, paint, floor and wall tile, and fabric.

This also includes maintaining good working relationships with numerous commercial vendors to assure that functional, modern design concepts are available for application or consideration at this facility.

Rapid changes in the field of design dictate an on-going relationship with all facets of the industry.

Prepares equipment and furniture listing for all assigned major renovation new construction projects and facility management to be submitted by the Medical Center to Central Office.

Evaluates existing furniture and equipment and makes appropriate determination of items needed for these projects.

Reviews all assigned renovation and construction projects and provides design consultation.

Administers service contacts for interior design projects such as with the installation of artwork, carpet, drapery, custom millwork and systems furniture.

The Interior Designer will be responsible for the design, cost estimates, inspecting the work and certifying that the final product meets contract specifications.

Responsible for improvement of patient care environments, including primary, urgent, medical, sub-acute, surgery, hospice, CWT, psych, GEM, dental and transitional.

Also responsible for improvement of employee work environments, which are not limited to offices, labs, kitchens, shops, industrial, laundry, warehouse, garages, etc.

Incumbent In this develops and maintains a complete interior system for the Medical Center.

capacity, he/she determines appropriate signage locations, prioritizes signage requests, coordinates all phases of signage demands, and ensures appropriate signage for renovations and/or relocations.

This area of responsibility is extremely important during large construction projects that have a significant impact on the Medical Center's needs.

Incumbent serves as Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR). Reviews submittals for compliance with VA regulations, federal guidelines as well as Medical Center criteria.

He/she is responsible for analyzing and developing cost estimates to cover furnishings and construction required for projects.

Incumbent is responsible for budgeting projects utilizing a yearly recurring budget funds and non-recurring project funds.

This includes verifying receipt of orders and coordinating and supervising the installation.

In addition to the fixed yearly budget and non-recurring project funds, the incumbent prepares budgetary figures for major and minor construction projects for supplemental and future year funding by VACO.

Coordinates facilities paint schedules and color selections with Engineering Service for compliance with overall Medical Center design scheme.

Prepares preliminary space plans for proposed projects, including detailed specifications, to evaluate alternatives.

Takes into account the present and future renovation projects, condition of existing paint, color selections, type of paint finish best suited for an area and availability of labor resources.

Evaluates the total program to assure compliance with Department of Veterans Affairs requirements, JC standards, regulations regarding provisions for handicapped persons, and Privacy Act requirements.

Makes recommendations for correction of defects identified Incumbent develops and directs planning and scheduling of short and long-range interior improvement projects for the Medical Center using the facilities construction and backfill plans along with other programs that determine future need.

This includes preparation of floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, furnishings, accessory selections, finished schedules, and presentation boards.

Incumbent is responsible for maintaining the interior design files which include drawings, specifications, project information, government contracts and regulations pertaining to interior design.

Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework.

Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD011640 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized