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Summary The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to providing world-class, integrated care to our Nation's Veterans. The Deputy Healthcare Engineer plays a crucial and highly visible role in achieving this mission by ensuring the safety, functionality, and optimal environment of care within our 1a VA Healthcare System. The Deputy Healthcare Engineer serves as the De Facto second in command and will be designated Acting Chief Engineer in the Chief's absence. Responsibilities This position operates within the Engineering department, a high-complexity organization responsible for the stewardship of all physical infrastructure. The Deputy serves as a key administrative and technical leader, assisting the Chief Engineer in the comprehensive oversight, management, and strategic direction of the physical plant, grounds, and all supporting services for a large, complex, and high-demand medical center environment. Duties Include but are not limited to : The Deputy Healthcare Engineer is a senior leader responsible for direct and indirect supervision of a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce, which may include General Foreman, Supervisors, Engineers, Technicians, and administrative staff across multiple divisions to include our owned campuses at Trinka Davis and Ft. McPherson. Strategic Planning: Assists the Chief Engineer in developing long-range capital improvement plans, resource allocation strategies, and performance metrics to ensure continuous operational improvement. Personnel Management: Oversees employee performance management, labor relations, staffing, training, and professional development programs to maintain a highly skilled and safety-conscious workforce. Budget & Finance: Contributes to the development, justification, and execution of the multi-million-dollar annual FM operating budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance with all federal procurement regulations. The Deputy Healthcare Engineer provides expert-level management and technical guidance across five critical components of the Facilities Management portfolio: 1. Planning, Design, and Construction (PDC) Provides subject matter expertise (SME) in the planning, scoping, and execution of major and minor construction projects, ensuring adherence to VA design guides, safety codes (e.g., NFPA, Joint Commission), and healthcare-specific engineering standards. Manages the project lifecycle from inception through final acceptance, including overseeing architectural/engineering (A/E) contracts, project managers, and construction schedules. 2. Building Service Equipment Operations (BSEO) Directs and monitors the operation, maintenance, and repair of critical utility systems, including central energy plants, HVAC, medical gas systems, electrical power distribution, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Ensures all BSEO activities comply with codes and mitigate risk to the patient environment, focusing on reliability, energy efficiency, and life safety. 3. General Maintenance and Repair (GMR) Oversees the Computerized Maintenance Management System (Maximo & Nuvolo), ensuring the effective scheduling and completion of preventive maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance (CM) activities. Manages trades shops (e.g., plumbing, electrical, carpentry) to ensure timely, high-quality maintenance of all facilities, patient care areas, and administrative spaces. 4. Grounds and Landscaping Directs the maintenance, upkeep, and aesthetics of all grounds, roads, and walkways, including comprehensive snow removal, storm water management, and landscape planning. Ensures grounds operations support the overall patient experience and safety. 5. Transportation Manages the lifecycle, maintenance, and deployment of the VA fleet vehicles used for patient transport, logistics, and facilities support. Develops and enforces policies for safe, efficient, and compliant use of all government vehicles. Work Schedule: Full-Time, 7:30 AM-4:00PM Compressed/Flexible: To be determined by service line Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 508-52360F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to highly qualified candidates EDRP Authorized: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 dentification 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. 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 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; OR 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all the qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard, but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to the position, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy), GS-13. (1)Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. (2)Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: (a)Knowledge of the management of overall healthcare system resources, (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing). (b)Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities. (c)Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives and managers. (d)Skill in balancing priorities, delegating tasks and meeting multiple competing deadlines. (e)Skill in interpreting broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapting/applying them to specific compliant programs at the local healthcare system. (f)Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions. (g)Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations. (h)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. (i)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. (j) Ability to interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs. 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. 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 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. 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 or 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. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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.