The Healthcare Engineer position serves as resident and program engineer consisting of the planning, design, and overseeing of major healthcare system projects; oversees Professional Architecture/Engineering (A/E) and Construction contracts to ensure the contractor is in compliance with all contractual requirements, healthcare regulations and codes, specifications and schedules are met in accordance with the government's requirements for VA owned and leased facilities.

Duties

Performs Healthcare Planning/Design Management: Determines the requirements for healthcare projects in relation to the needs of the Healthcare System based on a broad array of guidelines, standards, regulatory requirements and mission priorities inclusive of the parent site, as well as off-site locations under the auspice of the Healthcare System, whether VA owned or leased. Evaluates how to accomplish the requirements of the project and determines the associated risks necessary to complete the construction within the healthcare facility and identify ways to mitigate project risk. Minimizes the impact to patient care operations to ensure patients are able to continue to be cared for in a safe and secure manner due to the inability for the medical center to stop seeing patients during the construction phase of a project. Evaluates programs and projects to assure compliance with all environmental, safety and security standards. Plans and designs a phased approach for construction activities to be executed for complex medical construction projects to minimize risk and impact to patients and patient care operations and the daily patient treatment procedures that cannot be impacted without severe patient hazard. Manages Healthcare Design and Construction Administration: Evaluates and performs scheduling and layout of operations, inspection, and surveillance of materials, methods, and equipment used in construction. Reviews contractor submittals, contractor change order requests, assuring project compliance with drawings and specifications, administering A/E and VA Headquarters review processes, assuring safety practices, and making sound engineering recommendations to appropriate leadership for action. Manages and deals with constantly changing priorities and deadlines based on engineering workload. Uses engineering judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness in deviating from established methods to modify, adapt, and/or refine broader guidelines to resolve specific complex or intricate issues and problems, research trends and patterns; develop new methods and criteria; or propose new policies and sound practices. Trains the facility maintenance staff on new equipment or complex utility systems to ensure the staff have the comprehensions, qualifications and understanding of the systems to maintain and operate. Performs Healthcare Construction Management and Post Project Activities: Provides direction and guidance to improve the contractor's ability to work within the medical facility requirements and confinements to better perform the scope of work. Consults with contractor personnel to resolve difficult and complex unforeseen problems and latent conditions that develop during construction. Provides approvals on means and methods of performance of work and how it is conducted within a medical environment to ensure impacts of the construction do not impact patient care operation or provide a risk to patients or staff. Provides training and guidance to the contractor working within the medical facility environment which involves Infection Controls measures to be followed during construction, fire safety, dust mitigation, noise mitigation, vibration mitigation, and any other possible impact to patient care that could be caused by the construction progress of the project. Medical Infrastructure Planning Assists on the medical center construction projects, space functional changes, and associated planning with respect to medical technologies and medical-related technologies to include site preparation for medical equipment, station level projects, non-recurring maintenance projects, and minor construction project designs. Advises and works with clinical staff and the Biomedical Engineering staff on design and planning of construction of clinical spaces, specification development, and design reviews to research current design trends for medical space. Regulatory Agencies: Assists in monitoring and reporting on construction and utilities management program that allows the Veterans Health Administration to meet the requirements set by accrediting organizations such as TJC. Remains current with standards interpretation, implementation objectives, and regular reporting requirements. Assists by presenting details regarding the facility Construction Management Program to the accreditation bodies. Network Security: Ensures that information security issues are managed effectively for engineering databases and building automation systems. Documents systems including details such as backup, disaster recover, security, etc. which is critical to management of the networked systems. Work Schedule: M-F 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: 1-2 Days/ Per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55052-A, 55053-A, 55054-A, 55055-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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 & 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 & Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Commission OR Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination. 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 & Surveying 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 OR May qualify based on being covered by the 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 March 18, 2022 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. Grade Determinations: GS7: Experience: None beyond the basic requirements GS9: Experience or Education: Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS7 OR Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study. OR Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture, 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 GS9 level assignment AND Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts & practices of the engineering profession Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines & standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system Ability to prepare material on current technical topics & trends for presentation to other technical staff & mid-level hospital management & to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility GS11: Experience or Education: Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS9 OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering OR Master of Engineering degree, Master of Architecture degree, Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study, 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 & abilities for GS11 level assignment OR Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture, 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 & abilities for GS11 level assignment AND Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices & their applications in the healthcare environment Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies & regulations, inclusive of, state & local codes Ability to communicate effective orally & in writing with internal & external customers with tact & diplomacy Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles & application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology & utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges GS12: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS11. AND Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil & other engineering/architectural principles, practices & their applications in the healthcare environment Knowledge of healthcare industry standards & related regulatory agency & organization (including, but not limited to The Joint Commission, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, National Fire Protection Agency, etc.) regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives, standards & general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices & techniques, materials & equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations & standards Skill in researching & analyzing information, conditions, human factors & projections to make sound engineering & business recommendations & decisions to proactively identify problems & develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations & procedures Ability to plan & execute complex, multi-faceted projects & inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents & budgets Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms Preferred Experience: 4 years experience as a Project Manager with experience on all phases (planning, design, construction and activation). Experience conducting project review and analysis with success meeting established milestones. 4 years experience with complex healthcare designs and planning encompassing a majority of subjects in architectural, civil, structural, medical gas, plumbing ,mechanical, electrical, communications, fire, safety, security, and specialized systems (elevators, patient safety lifts, pneumatic tube, etc.) 2 years experience preparing architectural and engineering (A&E) statements of work. 2 years experience overseeing administration of architect-engineer and construction contracts. References: VA Handbook 5005/150 Part II Appendix G72 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

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 SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Marcia Davis
• Phone: 801-582-1565 X6426
• Email: [email protected]