Qualifications

Applicants must be the requirements by the closing date.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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
• 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 (1) above (DOCUMENTATION OF EQUIVALENCY REQUIRED)
• 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)
• NOTE: Direct health care experience is not required to qualify for a GS-801 Healthcare Engineer
• Candidates with Engineering experience in a hospital or healthcare system should be able to address the knowledge skills and abilities as it applies to the position
• Engineers that may not have worked in a hospital or healthcare system should ensure it is clear in their application how their non-healthcare related knowledge, skill or ability can be applied to the assignment and to the healthcare engineering occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified
• GS-12 Healthcare Engineer -(Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement:: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-12 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs directly applicable to the assignment and be associated within the scope of the healthcare engineering profession: 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
• Assignment
• Employees at this level serve as Healthcare Engineers at the full performance level
• They work independently, under general supervision with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment
• Healthcare Engineers demonstrate intimate grasp of high order healthcare engineering and capital subject matter
• They serve as institutional resources for healthcare delivery processes and systems, working extensively with clinical stakeholders, acquisition staff, contractors and executive leadership by leading healthcare engineering programs, technology assessments, integration planning and implementation of both current and emerging technologies
• Healthcare Engineers support the delivery of healthcare to Veterans by contributing to the education of clinical staff, planners and leadership to ensure safe and efficient healthcare delivery
• Healthcare Engineers plan, execute and document highly complex, multi-faceted healthcare facility construction projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets
• They identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures, as it relates to the healthcare environment
• Preferred Experience: Managing construction projects with the coordinator of multiple trades, subs, and vendors
• Quality control as it relates to keeping construction work compliant with project drawings, specifications, and regulations
• Working in a hospital setting in a role that maintains or improves the facility
• Familiarity with contract development, execution, and modification
• Managing the process of contracted Architect/Engineer design from concept through construction
• 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.