The Healthcare Engineer provides for a safe, reliable, and precisely controlled operating environment for direct patient care. They serve as experts in the design, sustainment, and improvement of the medical care environment, including all hospital building features, automated building management and environmental control systems, and critical utility systems.

This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until February 28, 2023. Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

The duties of the Supervisory Healthcare Engineer - Chief, Engineer in the Facilities Management Service include but are not limited to:

Engineering Program Management and Administration

The Chief Engineer is responsible for strengthening and enhancing healthcare facility engineering and operations. The Chief Engineer is a key managerial advisor reporting directly to top Medical Center management. This position is a responsible leader and a member of the Medical Center top management team and is relied on for authoritative advice on all aspects of engineering matters. Fully participating technical advisor in all or almost all significant management planning, policy, and decision-making actions of the Medical Center except those of a primarily medical nature. Involved with long and short-range planning, establishing policy, and budgeting for the Medical Center, as well as for all Engineering Service programs.

Budgeting/Financial Management Work
Provides for the budgeting and financial management for Engineering Service. This includes budget formulation, justification, and execution; financial management; and financial reporting. The Chief Engineer identifies functional requirements for current and future programs inclusive of life-cycle costs. Provides advice to management and program personnel on budgetary and finance issues. Provides budget management for major, unstable programs. Exercises responsibility for budget formulation, presentation, and execution. Maintains awareness of and information about the overall status of financial resources for the office in order to react to changing situations with timely recommendations. Participates with management in defending the budget before senior level management. Interacts and negotiates on adjustments or reprogramming in support of major program changes or requirements.

Research and Analysis Work
Researches and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements related to all areas of the facility and all facets of Engineering Service. Provides expert analysis and advice on complex program issues. Based on operations and changing program requirements, identifies relevant issues. Collects relevant information from many varied sources, some of which are difficult to access. Devises new analytical techniques to evaluate findings. Makes authoritative recommendations. Researches and provides technical recommendations pertaining to a wide-range of national codes and standards including but not limited to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), OSHA, TJC, EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Provides for the overall administrative management for Engineering Service.

Special Projects
Plans and/or accomplishes special projects. Manages special projects for major office or program issues of broad impact. Conceives and implements new initiatives and projects to strengthen, facilitate, and integrate programs. Undertakes or participates in special projects, ongoing analyses, investigations, and initiatives that have high priority for high-level management. This may involve producing complex analyses and written reports; organizing special committees, workshops, and other gatherings; initiating program reviews; and developing or fostering cross-agency activities. Identifies and determines training priorities, conducts and administers training programs, and develops and improves training guidance. May conduct classroom or other group-setting instruction.

Professional Engineering/Architectural Analysis and Advice
Serves as the Chief Engineer within a medical center/VISN/VACO hierarchy. In this capacity he meets regularly with other Engineers from across the country and VA Leadership from the Office of Capital Asset Management and Engineering Support (OCAMES). This position interfaces between VACO and the other Chief Engineers in VISN, and the VISN Capital Asset Manager. This position assists the VISN offices and other chief engineers by providing technical advice and input on a wide range of engineering issues, including the Strategic Capital Investment Plan, Capital Asset Inventory, Capital Asset Resource Survey, Deferred Maintenance, management of an engineering department, and a myriad of engineering related topics.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 598-00243-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

• 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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.