Supervisory Healthcare Engineer

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Chicago seeks a Deputy (Assistant Chief Engineer - Projects) in Engineering Service to lead planning, organizing, directing, evaluating, and managing Service Line programs, including setting standards and procedures for care environments and medical equipment management.

This role oversees Joint Commission Environment of Care programs for utility systems, safety, life safety, and seeks continuous improvement; the deputy provides guidance, staff development,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture from ABET/EAC-accredited program (transcript required).
• Evidence of FE exam or EIT, or current PE/Architect licensure (preferred).
• VA qualification standards knowledge and GS-13 prerequisites.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, evaluate, and manage Service Line programs.
• Oversee Joint Commission Environment of Care programs for utility systems, safety, life safety, and medical equipment management.
• Develop performance standards, conduct evaluations, and manage staff and training.
• Provide technical guidance on Strategic Capital Investment Plan and related initiatives.

Skills

Healthcare resources

Engineering principles

Communication skills

Prioritization

Policy interpretation

Initiative

Problem solving

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Staffing decisions

Education

ABET/EAC-accredited engineering or architecture program

FE exam / EIT documentation

Professional licensure (PE/Architect) preferred

Job description

This position serves as the Deputy (Assistant Chief Engineer - Projects), Engineering Service. Responsible for the planning, organizing, directing, evaluating, and management process for Service Line programs, which include setting qualitative and quantitative standards; develops and provides information on the methods, techniques, and procedures; oversees the Joint Commission (TJC) Environment of Care Programs for Utility Systems Management, Safety, Life Safety, and Medical Equipment Management

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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

OR

Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam 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. (SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED)

OR

Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico. (SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED)

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).

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the following:

Grade Determinations

GS-13 Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy)

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-12). Experience such as: budget formulation, justification, and execution; financial management; and financial reporting; planning, organizing, directing, evaluating, and management process; oversees The Joint Commission (TJC) Environment of Care Programs for Utility Systems Management, Safety, Life Safety, and Medical Equipment Management; long and short-range planning, establishing policy, and budgeting for the Medical Center, as well as for all Engineering Service programs; provides professional and technical guidance and direction and review of assigned programs; manages human resource functions such as performance, training and development, hiring, and firing; provides technical advice on Strategic Capital Investment Plan, Capital Asset Inventory, Capital Asset Resource (CAPRES) Survey, Deferred Maintenance, management of an engineering department; spot checks work orders and preventative maintenance orders in the field to ensure timely and accurate completion etc.

AND,

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrated the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):

• 1. Knowledge of the management of overall healthcare system resources, (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing).
• 2. Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities.
• 3. Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives and managers.
• 4. Skill in balancing priorities, delegating tasks and meeting multiple competing deadlines.
• 5. Skill in interpreting broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapting/applying them to specific compliant programs at the local healthcare system.
• 6. Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions.
• 7. Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations.
• 8. 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.
• 9. Ability to ensure compliance with healthcare industry standards and regulatory agency, (i.e., TJC, OSHA, NFPA, etc.), regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering.
• 10. Ability to interview candidates for positions in the section, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs.

Assignment:

This Supervisory Healthcare Engineer, GS-13, position is the deputy to the Supervisory Healthcare Engineer, GS14, who supervises professional engineers and other support staff. They supervise the engineering service to accomplish the operations of the service. The deputy, as an assistant chief, in this position exercises 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 deputy provides a safe, reliable and precisely controlled operating environment for direct patient care. They are experts in the design, sustainment and improvement of the medical care environment, including all hospital building features, automated building management and environmental control systems, critical utility systems and medical equipment technology.

Preferred Experience: Licensed Architect/Professional Engineer (PE) Preferred. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your current license or registration with your application package.

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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

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 Associate 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.