Healthcare Engineer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Omaha, NE seeks a Healthcare Engineer to plan, design, and oversee Minor Construction and NRM projects at VA medical centers and CBOCs.

The role includes managing architectural, electrical, life safety, and other system designs while ensuring codes and standards compliance. The position requires coordinating A/E contracts, serving as COR, and leading an Integrated Project Team to deliver projects that support high-quality patient care and facility

Qualifications

• Knowledge of engineering principles and healthcare facility operations.
• Ability to interpret codes, regulations, and standards for healthcare facilities.
• Experience coordinating design and construction contracts for large facilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist planning, design, and oversight of healthcare system projects.
• Administer A/E and Construction contracts to ensure compliance with regulations and schedules.
• Act as COR on professional design/construction projects and lead IPT meetings.

Skills

Engineering Principles

Code Compliance

Project Management

Healthcare Systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture

Job description

Summary

This position performs project planning - produces designs - manages designs - manages construction - and provides construction administration for Minor Construction Projects - Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) Projects - Station Level Projects - and Leases - including all areas and aspects (architectural - electrical - life safety - mechanical - civil - structural - etc.) at an assigned medical center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)'s.

Qualifications

Healthcare Engineer

Basic Requirements

• To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship: You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) Education (must meet one of the following): 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: Direct health care experience is not required to qualify for a GS-801 Healthcare Engineer
• Candidates with Engineering experience in a hospital or healthcare system should be able to address the knowledge skills and abilities as it applies to the position
• Engineers that may not have worked in a hospital or healthcare system should ensure it is clear in their application how their non-healthcare related knowledge - skill or ability can be applied to the assignment and to the healthcare engineering occupation.Grandfather Provision
• A Healthcare Engineer employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (3/18/2022) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-0801-12) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements
• Grade Determinations:The full performance level for this qualification standard is the GS-12 grade level
• GS-07 Healthcare Engineer (Entry Level Developmental) - No additional requirements beyond the basic requirements
• GS-09 Healthcare Engineer (Developmental) - Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 you must meet one of the following: You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (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 basic requirements
• OR Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph basic requirements 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 Healthcare Engineer (Developmental) Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 you must meet one of the following: You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in basic requirements
• OR Master of Engineering degree - Master of Architecture degree - Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in basic requirements - 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 basic requirements 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
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED IN EDUCATION SECTION Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to - the following: Assists with the planning - design - and oversight of healthcare system projects
• administering 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
• Provides engineering support to the assigned healthcare system and is responsible for maintaining construction specifications and drawings - maintaining technical reference library of codes - standards - and other regulations which are applicable to the engineering construction industries Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - and others
• Performs the duties of a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on professional design and construction projects - training service staff on technical issues and assisting the service staff on the completion of technical and administrative issues regarding infrastructure related operations of the medical facility
• Serves as the Integrated Project Team (IPT) Chairperson - comprised of diverse and multidiscipline professional team members - consisting of internal and external stakeholders - and is a recognized expert in project management
• Participates in planning deliberations and contributes significantly to the management decision-making process through teamwork - innovation - coordination - and collaboration with other senior members and stakeholders to ensure objectives are met toward meeting the healthcare system's overall strategic plan goals
• Maintains COR certification to oversee the administration of Facility Engineering Service's Architect/Engineer and Construction Contracts
• The position also maintains VA Facility Engineering/ Construction (FE-C) certification to ensure competency and compliance with MISSION Act requirements for managing construction
• Supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare engineering as demonstrated by the following major responsibilities: Conducts capital asset and infrastructure planning and design for the medical facility spanning initial strategic planning - concept development - design - construction - and effective implementation of complex buildings - utilities - and medical support systems
• Manages healthcare engineering project design and administers construction in accordance with VA policies and procedures - VA Design Guides - VA Design Manuals - VA Master Specifications and related industry codes and standards
• Performs healthcare engineering project construction management and post project activities while ensuring continuity of building and utility services for medical facility operations
• Assists in the provision of a continuing education program for clinical staff and maintenance personnel addressing the principles and application of building and utility systems in the delivery of health care
• The position determines the requirements for healthcare projects in relation to the needs of the Healthcare System - inclusive of the parent site - as well as off-site locations under the auspice of the Healthcare System - whether VA owned or leased
• Project needs are determined for the organization down to the department level based on a broad array of guidelines - standards - regulatory requirements and mission priorities
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad-hoc only - per Supervisor's discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized