Healthcare Engineer

The Healthcare Engineer position is located within Engineering Service at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia. The incumbent shall be responsible for coordinating, directing and administering highly complex and multi-discipline healthcare design and construction projects throughout the Medical Center.

Qualifications:

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.
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. 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).
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 2; the following criteria must be met.
GS-07 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-09 Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade(GS-7);
OR
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
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:

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.
• Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and 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 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 Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9);
OR
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1);
OR
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
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 (KSAs). 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 and 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 and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
• Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and 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 and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges.

GS-12 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11).

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 mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
• 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.
• Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
• 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.
• Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets.
• 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 5005/150 Appendix G72The 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: 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 incumbent 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.

Responsibilities:

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Leads and directs multi-discipline teams to deliver architectural/engineering designs and construction projects within the constraints of schedule, budget and scope within the procurement guidelines and acquisition regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Responsible for coordination and oversight of all activities relating to multiple concurrent architectural/engineering design deliverables and construction projects.
• Exercise highly proficient knowledge as a designer/consultant in the planning, design, and supervision of new A/E design deliverables and construction projects, including alterations and additions to the existing building utilities systems, various biomedical equipment procurement and installation including site preparation to accommodate the various biomedical equipment, and public works projects. Exercise proficient knowledge of various technical disciplines comprising of - site selection and development, space planning, architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, heating/ventilation/air-conditioning (HVAC), electrical, biomedical, environmental, and equipment operations.
• Prepares highly proficient procurement packages for architectural and engineering services contracts and construction contracts in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Ability to promote proficient professional and technical expertise in the selection Architectural and Engineering (A/E) consultants to provide A/E services special emphasis on projects related healthcare- and medical facilities with proficient knowledge of the interpretation and application of NFPA Life Safety codes, IBCs, , NEC, TJC (formerly JCAHO), OSHA NIH/ORF, CARF, CAP, AIA and VHA guidelines and specifications to projects (other codes and guidelines may be applicable).
• Strong management of A/E consultants throughout the entire design process - from conception through to commissioning/activation.
• Primarily responsible in exercising fiduciary and ethical judgement for acceptance of the final design deliverables - specifications, drawings, cost estimates, analyses and other supplemental documents.
• Inspects portions of completed work, punch-lists issues and the overall completion of projects to determine compliance with the materials and equipment stipulations, and the performance requirements of the contracts.
• Proficiently conduct investigations and inspections constituting various multi-disciplines. Generates proficient reports pertaining to inspections and investigations - environment-of-care (EOC)/patient-care conditions, engineering, architectural, facilities condition(s) assessments, annual workplace evaluations (AWEs), pre-design inspections and root-cause-analysis (RCAs) with supporting recommendations for remedial actions.
• Conducts thorough daily construction safety inspections for active construction and renovation projects as assigned to the prospective General Engineer.
• Collaborates actively in conducting Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) assessments and Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM) implementation of construction and renovation projects, and generate documentation confirming occurrences ICRA assessments and ILSM implementation.
• Proficiently generates and reviews contract drawings, specifications, sketches, cost-estimates, as-built drawings, project schedules and various correspondences.
• Plans and coordinates construction activities to minimize impact on the operation of the medical center;
• Reviews and approves/disapproves submittals - materials, pieces of equipment, projects schedules, samples, prototypes, etc.
• Proficiently execute project management functions - evaluate scheduling and cost control impacts, preparation scope of work (SOW), documentation management, project coordination/monitoring/controlling, communication coordination, review and approvals of payment requests and project schedules, project status briefing, quality control implementation, retrieve products (M)SDSs, project activation/commissioning, and project close-out.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 53434F;53435F;53441F; 52137F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified selections
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required