Healthcare Environment Engineer

Description:

This position serves as a Healthcare Engineer - Green Environment Management Systems (GEMS) program manager. The position requires competency in many aspects of managing the assigned GEMS programs, including project planning and scope development where necessary. Will also require assignment to serve as the Lead Environmental Engineer for the Lexington VA Healthcare System and acts as the principal liaison for the GEMS program between the VISN Management and VA Central Office.

Requirements:

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 :

To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

1. Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States
2. English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
3. 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.
• 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;
• 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-0801 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. (Only applicable above the GS-7 entry level)

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:

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must meet one of the following:
   1. You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7)
2. 1. 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;
   2. 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:

1. Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.
2. Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.
3. Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system.
4. 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:

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11 you must meet one of the following:
   1. You must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9)
2. 1. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in basic requirements;
3. 1. 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;
4. 1. 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:

1. Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
2. Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.
3. Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
4. Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
5. Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.
6. 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.

... Qualifications continued in the following section, "Education" ...