Summary

The incumbent serves as the Deputy Chief Engineer of Facilities Management Service (FMS), and provides assistance to the Chief Engineer with direction and oversight of the overall supervision, managing, planning, organizing, & maintaining operational control of the following sections: Facility Maintenance & Repair, Operations, Energy Program, Capital Improvements, areas of civil, electrical, mechanical, & environmental engineering, space planning, and overall physical operations of the facility.

Duties

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The incumbent serves as the Deputy Chief Engineer of FMS, and provides assistance to the Chief of FMS with the direction and oversight of the overall supervision, managing, planning, organizing, and maintaining operational control of the following sections: Facility Maintenance and Repair, Operations, Capital Improvements, Energy Program, areas of civil, electrical, mechanical, architectural, safety engineering and environmental engineering, and the overall physical operations of the facility. Incumbent also supports system and local planning, campus master planning, environmental and historical reviews for all VASNHS projects. The incumbent participates in space planning and programming requirements and standards, provides guidance on environmental and historic preservation legal requirements, and all health care requirements and standards.

The Deputy Chief, is recognized as a technical expert and advisor on all areas of civil, electrical, mechanical and environmental engineering, and the overall physical operations of VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS), which is comprised of a (130) bed acute Medical Center, a (40) bed Substance Abuse Disorder Domiciliary, (4) Primary Care Clinics in the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area, a Community Based Outreach Clinic located in Pahrump, Nevada, a Rural Outpatient Clinic in Laughlin, NV, (1) Veterans Recovery Centers and (2) Veterans Centers. VASNHS serves Veterans in seven counties including Clark, Lincoln, Nye, and Esmeralda counties in Nevada; Washington County in Utah; Mohave County in Arizona and San Bernardino County in California.

The incumbent supports and advances patient care under the direction of the Chief Engineer by applying engineering and administrative skills to engineering functions as demonstrated by the following major responsibilities:

a. Direction and review of professional and technical programs, as outlined by the Office of Healthcare Engineering and Healthcare Environment and Facilities Program (HEFP), (10NA5).

b. Technical expertise in the areas of civil, electrical, mechanical and environmental engineering.

c. Support for VASNHS Leadership by developing policies, procedures, resource allocation recommendations, equipment repair, preventive maintenance programs and overall management for the facilities.

d. Provides coverage and acts in full capacity as the Chief Engineer, when the Chief Engineer is Unavailable

e. Obtain the required VHA Certifications: FAC-COR, FAC-P/PM and FE-C VHA within one (1) year of employment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday from 07:30am to 4:00pm

Telework: Yes - as determined by the agency policy. Ad - Hoc telework.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• Must possess a 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

• Have 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. (Note: Supporting documentation must be provided at the time of application.)

Or

• Possess a 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: Supporting documentation must be provided at the time of application.)

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12).

-AND-

In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-13 level, do you possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities?

• Knowledge of the management of overall healthcare system resources, (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing).
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities.
• Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives and managers.
• Skill in balancing priorities, delegating tasks and meeting multiple competing deadlines.
• Skill in interpreting broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapting/applying them to specific compliant programs at the local healthcare system.
• Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions.
• Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations.
• 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 ensure compliance with healthcare industry standards and regulatory agency and organization (including but not limited to TJC, OSHA, NFPA, etc.), regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering.
• Ability to interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs.
• Ability to obtain the required VHA Certifications: FAC-COR, FAC-P/PM and FE-C VHA within one (1) year of employment.

Preferred: 5+ years of experience as a supervisory engineer. 3-5 years experience in a healthcare hospital setting. Familiar with healthcare accrediting bodies to include OSHA and the Joint Commission (TJC) and a variety of other prevailing codes and standards. Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities.

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).

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.