The Healthcare Engineer provides for a safe, reliable, and precisely controlled operating environment for direct patient care. Healthcare Engineers serve as experts in the design, sustainment, and improvement of the medical care environment, including all hospital building features, automated building management and environmental control systems, and critical utility systems.

Duties

Healthcare Engineers collaborate directly with executive leadership, medical staff, nursing staff, biomedical engineering, and other clinical personnel regarding the design and operation of the environment for medical care. They manage capital asset programs and construction projects. They educate and advise clinical staff on the safe use of critical building features, utility systems, and fire prevention systems as they relate to the environment of care. They ensure that the Healthcare System complies with a multitude of accreditation and regulatory requirements including, but not limited to, those promulgated by the Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Deputy Chief is a key engineering advisor reporting directly to the Chief/Director of Major Projects Service. S/he is a responsible leader and a member of the Major Projects Service management team and is relied on for authoritative advice on all aspects of planning, design, construction and activations matters. This position provides matrix management support and technical expert consultation to the Chief of Major Projects Service for all issues relative to the areas listed above. The Deputy Chief of Major Projects Service makes recommendations to the Chief for final approval, and has responsibility and accountability for all aspects of the planning, design, construction and activation matters and oversight as it relates to Major Projects and associated Projects and Contracts. S/he collaborates with operations and program managers to ensure integrated goals and priorities for all assignments are met. The Deputy Chief also works closely with peers in other service lines to meet their project needs as internal customers and the needs of external customers as well. The Deputy Chief of Major Projects Service is responsible for strengthening and enhancing healthcare facility engineering and operations via Major Projects. The Deputy Chief is a key managerial advisor reporting directly to the Director (Chief) of Major Projects Service. This position acts in the full authority and capacity of the Chief in his/her absence, and is relied on for authoritative advice on all aspects of engineering matters. This position is a fully participating technical advisor in significant management planning, policy, and decision-making actions of the Medical Center except those of a primarily medical nature. Assists the Chief in providing comprehensive, programmatic advice and assistance in the management of financial and personnel resources within Major Projects Service. Assists in establishing strategic goals and objectives, administrative approaches and in developing current and long-range plans to accomplish the mission. Analyzes and evaluates work requirements to determine goals and objectives that require additional emphasis. Supports the Director (Chief) of Major Projects Service in collaborating with the Associate Director and the Medical Center Director in short-, mid- and long-range planning, providing program objectives, development and direction of organization programs. Determines and directs organizational functions in accordance with assigned mission to meet known and foreseeable needs. He/She, in the absence of the Director/Chief, confers with the Associate Director and/or Director, and with other key Health Care System personnel and staff, regarding projected major changes. Develops courses of action within the framework of established policies and objectives to accomplish the core mission. Assists in attainment of operational plans, goals and objectives. May directs or make technical determinations as to courses of action to pursue and resolve issues requiring decisions at the lowest levels. Helps to provide oversight and review of major projects for the Health Care System in support of the overall mission. Coordinates engineering involvement with construction and alteration of facilities with the Corps of Engineers, VA Central Office, VISN 15 and state and local regulators and other activities. Provides technical reviews of all proposed additions and modification projects. Represents the VASTLHCS at construction management meetings. Responsible for compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations regarding The Joint Commission, historical, environmental, safety, asbestos, lead and other guidance. Principal advisor to the Medical Center Director on engineering and facility management/utilization issues. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational, or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time; (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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; (Certificate/Evidence required) 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. (Evidence of registration/Licensure required) 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 paragraph 3.b. of this appendix. (Must provide transcripts and certification letter) 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). Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all the qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard, but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy), GS-13. (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 the management of overall healthcare system resources, (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing). (b) Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities. (c) Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives and managers. (d) Skill in balancing priorities, delegating tasks and meeting multiple competing deadlines. (e) Skill in interpreting broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapting/applying them to specific compliant programs at the local healthcare system. (f) Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions. (g) Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations. (h) Ability to anticipate, develop and implement strategies in meeting the healthcare system's short term and long-term strategic goals in a highly fluid environment. (i) Ability to ensure compliance with healthcare industry standards and regulatory agency and organization (including but not limited to TJC, OSHA, NFPA, etc.), regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering. (j) Ability to interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs. References: VA Handbook 5005/150, Part II, Appendix G72, HEALTHCARE ENGINEER QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0801 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The Deputy Chief of Major Projects must also work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites. The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required, e.g., walking, standing, climbing ladders, stooping, kneeling, and carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle.

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.

Contacts

• Address VA St Louis Health Care System 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive St. Louis, MO 63125 US
• Name: Ashley Moore
• Phone: 909-520-8107
• Email: [email protected]