Interior Designer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Interior Designer at the Durham VA Health Care System to plan and manage a comprehensive interior design program from concept through installation.

You will coordinate activities of staff and vendors, ensure patient-friendly, safe, and code-compliant environments, and collaborate with project teams to deliver functional spaces within budget.

Qualifications

• Major study in interior design or related field with 30+ semester hours or NCIDQ exam (transcript required).
• One year of specialized experience in interior design projects such as programming, space planning and aesthetics.
• Valid State driver’s license and safe driving record required.

Responsibilities

• Provide complete interior design services from concept to installation.
• Plan and design spaces for new construction and renovations.
• Ensure patient-friendly, safe, code-compliant environments within budget.
• Coordinate with supervisors, vendors and site managers to deliver projects.
• Maintain interior design standards, finish library and related documentation.

Skills

Interior design

Project management

Vendor coordination

Stakeholder liaison

Communication

Education

Interior design degree or NCIDQ

Job description

Summary

This position is assigned to Facilities Management - Interior Design Section - at the Durham VA Health Care System and supported catchment area. This position is responsible for planning - implementation and operational management of a complete Interior Design program for the VA organization. This requires the position to plan and coordinate the activities of other individuals - commercial vendors and to serve as liaison with same.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/01/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- Interior design or other field that included or was supplemented by at least 30 30 semester hours in interior design - Interior architecture - or interior environmental design - or passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. (Transcript or proof of passage of NCIDQ examination required) OR - Specialized Experience: Experience that required the performance of work concerned with the design and alteration of interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs such as: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: . OR - Identifying - researching - and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment. Performing services relative to interior spaces - including programming - design analysis - space planning and aesthetics - using specialized knowledge of interior construction - building systems and components - building codes - equipment - materials - and furnishings. Preparing drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces in order to enhance and protect the health - safety - and welfare of the public. .Coordinating and integrating the mechanical - electrical - and structural engineering disciplines within the interior context. Managing projects - developing cost estimates - evaluating bid proposals - reviewing construction documents - participating in on-site construction visits - conducting pre- and post-occupancy evaluations - developing standards for efficient space management - etc. GS-11 Grade Level Requirements Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: preparing drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces; managing design file systems (e.g. drawings - budgets - specifications - project information - etc); reviewing construction documents; and evaluating bid proposals. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of the position - 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree - or related LL.M. (Transcript Required). OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond master's or equivalent graduate degree - beyond 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education - or beyond LL.B or J.D. - if related (Transcript Required). A valid State driver's license is required and safe driving record are required. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Provides complete - from concept to installation - interior design services for a medical center and satellite facilities
• Provides plans - consultation - advice - specifications - and designs for all spaces involved in new construction and/or renovation
• Responsible for the design of patient-friendly environments which are conducive to healing - aesthetically appealing - safety and code compliant - with clear and understandable maneuverability - all within the fiscal requirements set down by Medical Center Leadership
• Responds to requests and complaints related to interior design functions
• Advises supervisor of suitable responses to deficiencies in design functions where applicable
• Keeps Project Manager informed on expected time of completion of work - and maintains records of work accomplishments and time expended
• Prepares production reports as requested
• Instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques and makes available written instructions - reference materials - and supplies
• Gives on the job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices
• Maintains current knowledge of interior design standards - procedures - policies - directives - and answer questions of interior designers
• Establishes and maintains a DURVAMC Interior Design standard finish library for various types of offices and standard operating procedures
• Maintains an interior design file system that includes drawings - specifications - budgets - project information - and regulations pertaining to interior design
• Maintains a resource library of catalogs for furniture - window treatments - wall coverings - patient-cubicle curtains - floor coverings - wall art - and other design related items
• In addition - the incumbent works with site managers - vice presidents - business managers - project engineers - and contractors in planning - designing and developing space including space programming - technical specifications and budgets
• Consults with site managers - vice presidents and project engineers on Major - Minor - NRM and station level construction programs
• May serve as a member of the Patient Care Area Inspection Program as requested
• Researches and prepares technical interior design specifications including fixtures for electrical - physical security requirements - special construction for drug storage - infection control - food service and other requirements which may affect the cost of renovations or construction
• Studies the functions and operations of each activity and plans and develops adesign for the effective use of space
• Plans space requirements for support areas such as filing and storage - conference rooms - photocopying - etc
• Estimates future growth or shrinkage in space requirements and tabulates total square footage requirements for the customer
• Prepares space and interior design plans - drawing and freehand sketches showing layout of furniture - utilities required and partitioning for each project
• Shows colors - finish materials and schedules - special items - graphics - signage - etc
• - on drawings showing complete design intent
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD558-06550A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized