This position will serve as a Healthcare Engineer (Safety Engineer) within the VA Western New York Healthcare System, Office of Occupational Safety & Health. As a team member within a multi-disciplinary service, the incumbent will assume primary responsibility for the implementation, administration, and advisement of one or more program areas to include Occupational Safety, Construction Safety, Fire Protection & Life Safety and Industrial Hygiene.

Duties

Anticipation, identification, and evaluation of hazardous conditions, exposures and unsafe work practices Anticipating and predicting hazards, exposures, or unsafe work practices from experience, historical data, and other information sources. Identifying and recognizing hazardous conditions in existing or future systems, equipment, products, facilities process, operations, and procedures related to a variety of industrial, research, and healthcare settings. Completing PPE hazard assessments, ergonomic assessments, various risk assessments, and job safety analysis applicable to a variety of industrial, research, and healthcare operations to ensure proper use of machinery and equipment, personal protective equipment, and procedures. Providing advice and counsel to all levels of VAMC staff about compliance with safety, health and environmental laws, codes, regulations, standards, VHA Directive, and internal policies or procedures. Responding to emergency situations, incidents/accidents, and staff reports of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions. Development of hazard control designs, methods, procedures and programs Developing safety, health, and environmental policies, procedures, and standards for integration into operational policies of the Healthcare System, unit operations, purchasing and contracting. Formulating and prescribing engineering or administrative controls to eliminate hazards, causes of exposures, incidents, and loss events. Consulting, advising, and/or leading teams engaged in planning, design, development and installation or implementation of systems or programs involving hazard controls. Developing a working knowledge of Infection Control and the requirements to be followed included in the Risk Assessments, their application in the health care environment, and methods necessary to retain separation of active construction from the healthcare environment. Developing a working knowledge of how specialized patient services are performed throughout the healthcare system to become a knowledgeable proponent to provide direction to project engineers in how to meet end-users' goals and intention, but still manage the expectation of compliance with design standards, codes, and regulations focused on hazard control and/or abatement of hazards. Implementation, administration, and advisement on hazard controls and hazard control programs Using written and graphic materials, presentations, and other communication media to recommend hazard controls and hazard control policies, procedures and programs to management officials. Directing or assisting in planning and developing educational and training materials, courses, orientations, or outreach events involving hazard recognition and control. Managing and implementing hazard controls and hazard control programs that are within the duties of the individuals scope of work as designated by supervisor. Consulting with various scientific and other federal agency experts in coordinating techniques and gathering information concerning evolving technology, particularly with respect to occupational hazards. Measurement, audit, and evaluation of hazard controls and hazard control programs. Performing audits and inspections of work sites, utilizing accepted survey methodology (e.g. observing the facility, conducting sampling, referring to process flow charts, verifying safety and health systems, programs and documentation, and interviewing employees and management), to assure compliance with occupational safety and health program requirements; prepares technical reports of inspection findings; and develops corrective actions. Establishing and implementing techniques or methodologies for systematic evaluation of hazard control and hazard control program effectiveness. Providing results of evaluation assessments, including recommended adjustments and changes to hazard controls or hazard control programs to supervisor and/or management officials responsible for their management and implementation The position maintains COR certification to oversee the administration of OSH Contracts. Meets with assigned supervisor on a regular basis to provide progress updates on assigned projects, program goals and targets. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday Telework: Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 25654F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements. 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 overtime; 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. Must provide a copy of registration or licensure. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Healthcare Engineer, GS-07 Experience:None beyond the basic requirements. Healthcare Engineer, GS-09 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. 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. Healthcare Engineer, GS-11 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. 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. Healthcare Engineer, GS-12 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. VA Handbook 5005/150 Part II Appendix G72. Healthcare Engineer Qualification Standard GS-0801

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.

Contacts

• Address VA Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: Sarah Cassidy
• Email: [email protected]