HEALTHCARE ENGINEER

Summary

The position serves as a Healthcare Engineer (Safety) at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System. This position performs safety planning, design refinements, and construction safety management/administration for Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) Projects, Station Level Projects, and Leases including all areas and aspects (architectural, water treatment, electrical, life safety, mechanical, civil, structural, etc.) at an assigned medical center and associated CBOC's.

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Overview

* Accepting applications
* Open & closing dates

12/18/2023 to 09/30/2024

* Salary

$65,125 - $150,179 per year

* Pay scale & grade

GS 7 - 12

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

* Birmingham, AL 1 vacancy

* Remote job

No

* Telework eligible

Yes-AD-HOC

* Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

* Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

* Appointment type

Permanent -

* Work schedule

Full-time -

* Service

Excepted

* Promotion potential

12

* Job family (Series)

0801 General Engineering

* Supervisory status

No

* Security clearance

Other

* Drug test

No

* Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

* Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

* Announcement number

CBTB-12247893-24-JB

* Control number

767668000

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This job is open to

* Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

* The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

* Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Announcement is open to Current, Permanent VHA employee's, Veteran's and the public.

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Duties

The Healthcare Engineer supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare engineering as demonstrated by the following major responsibilities:

* 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. This includes a curriculum that addresses the safe and effective use of medical gases, emergency power, ventilation, and other healthcare infrastructure related technology. This requires skill to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, with a wide variety of individuals, including technical and professional clinical staff, to communicate technical information.
* 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.

Preferred Experience: COR, water systems, and construction safety experience

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm.

Compressed/Flexible:Not available.

Telework: AD-HOC.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: Varies based on grade level; available from Human Resources

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

NOTIFICATIONS:

* This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
* This position is covered by a special rate.
* Veteran's preference does apply.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

* You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
* Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
* Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
* You may be required to serve a probationary period.
* Subject to background/security investigation.
* Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
* Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
* Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
* Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Additional Information below for details.

Qualifications

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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (referenced below).

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).

Grade Determinations:

GS-7: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-9:

(1) Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following:

(a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade;

OR

(b) Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1);

OR

(c) Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) 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.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.

(b) Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.

(c) Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system.

(d) 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.

GS-11:

(1) Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following:

(a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade;

OR

(b) Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1);

OR

(c) Master of Engineering degree, Master of Architecture degree, Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1), plus 1 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;

OR

(d) Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) plus 3 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.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.

(b) Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.

(c) Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.

(d) Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.

(e) Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.

(f) 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.

GS-12:

(1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.

(b) 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.

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

(d) 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.

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

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

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G72 - Healthcare Engineer Qualification Standard.

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-7 to 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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* Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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