Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Chief)

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. Serving in a direct patient-care capacity must be proficient in spoken and written English. Physical Requirements. See the physical below or See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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 over time; 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. NOTE: 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. Grandfathering Provision. See below under Education. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Supervisory Healthcare Engineer, GS-14 Experience – Must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-13) grade level. GS-13 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of data analysis techniques related to managing workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the area of responsibility. Knowledge related to the management of overall department resources (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules, and staffing) at the local level. Knowledge of the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, training and development, recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships, leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, labor representatives, and managers. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations. Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare engineering management. Ability to recognize and assess evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction, and assigned resources to affect resolutions. AND GS-14 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must fully demonstrate ALL the following KSAs. Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, and other engineering/architectural principles, practices, and their applications as related to healthcare facilities. Knowledge related to the management of overall healthcare system resources (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules, and staffing). Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives, and managers. Skill in balancing multiple responsibilities, setting priorities, delegating tasks and projects, meeting multiple deadlines, analyzing complex organizational problems, and developing and implementing effective solutions that result in efficient operations. Skill in applying considerable independent judgment to interpret broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapt/apply them to specific compliant programs in the local healthcare system. Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, and self-directing and assigning resources to affect resolutions. Skill in complying with national internal and outside regulatory agencies and organizations (including, but not limited to, TJC, OSHA, NFPA, etc.) regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives, standards, and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering. 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. Ability to interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs. Preferred Experience: Healthcare experience, experience with managing aging structures and large facilities with remote facilities. References: VA Handbook 5005/150 March 18, 2022 Part II Appendix G72 Work Environment / 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 Chief Engineer 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. Assignment. For all supervisory assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, range of variety and be performed by the incumbent as a major duty at least 25% of the time. The incumbent must supervise staff for at least 25% of the time, administratively and technically at the full performance grade level or below. This Supervisory Healthcare Engineer, GS-14 position is the Chief Engineer. Chief Engineers supervise engineering service, including subordinate the Supervisory Healthcare Engineer(s) at the GS-13 level, to ensure compliance with VA, TJC and a variety of other prevailing codes and standards. In addition to Chief Engineers’ integral role in providing capability and capacity for the primary medical mission, they ensure the availability of facilities for complex medical research and participate in community partnerships and supports Department of Defense contingency planning. Chief Engineers supervise the engineering staff to accomplish the operations of the service. As Chief Engineers, they exercise the full range of supervisory responsibility to include but not limited to development of performance standards and performance evaluations; recommendations for appointment, awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions and identification of continuing training needs.
The Chief Engineer has full administrative and managerial responsibilities for planning, staffing, budgeting, developing, and effectively managing the total Engineering Program. The Engineering Program functions include all planning, design, and supervision of project renovation, modernization, and construction work; safety, industrial hygiene, disaster management, and green environmental management services; fleet and energy conservation services; and all maintenance and repair of buildings.