Summary
Serves as the Assistant Chief Engineer, supporting all engineering programs at a VA Medical Center. Oversees maintenance, utilities, safety, energy management, construction, and capital planning. Provides technical leadership, ensures regulatory compliance, manages personnel and budgets, and integrates engineering operations into the medical center's mission.
Duties
This announcement is amended to extend the closing date to 10/13/2026 in observance of the holiday. The Assistant Chief must be competent in many aspects of managing VHA Healthcare Facility Engineering Programs including Interdisciplinary Engineering Coordination and Integration; Facility Maintenance and Operations Management; Construction Development, Management, and Oversight; Healthcare Facility Engineering Program Administration; Healthcare Regulatory, Safety, and Accreditation Compliance; Strategic Planning; Technical Personnel Supervision; and VA Inter-Administration Stakeholder Collaboration. Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as the full Deputy and Assistant Chief Engineer, acting with full authority in the absence of the Chief Engineer and providing managerial and technical leadership for all Engineering Service programs. Manages and oversees professional engineering programs including Maintenance and Repair, Utility Plant Operations, Energy Management and Conservation, Safety, Fire Prevention, Industrial Hygiene, Emergency Preparedness, Vehicle Fleet, Grounds, Capital Planning, and Construction Project Management. Plans, organizes, directs, evaluates, and manages Engineering Service operations, establishing qualitative and quantitative standards and integrating engineering programs into the medical center's mission and strategic objectives. Provides authoritative technical advice on engineering matters, collaborating with Executive Leadership, clinical staff, VISN Capital and Energy Engineers, VACO leadership, and national committees on engineering issues, strategic capital planning, and infrastructure requirements. Oversees Joint Commission Environment of Care Programs, ensuring compliance with Utility Systems Management, Life Safety, Safety, and Medical Equipment Management requirements for the Medical Center and all CBOCs. Administers human resources programs for Engineering Service, including workforce planning, succession planning, hiring, performance management, disciplinary actions, and labor/management relations. Provides budget formulation, justification, execution, and financial management for Engineering Service, advising senior management and negotiating adjustments or reprogramming related to major program changes. Conducts research and analysis on engineering programs, regulatory requirements, national codes (NFPA, OSHA, TJC, EPA, CDC, NIOSH), and emerging initiatives, developing policies, procedures, and administrative guidance to ensure compliance. Leads construction administration activities including capital improvement program development, space planning, renovation oversight, technical reviews, cost estimating, contractor coordination, and compliance with VA CFM, AIA, FGI, ASHRAE, and USP 797/800 standards. Provides professional supervision and mentorship to engineers, architects, project managers, technicians, and other engineering personnel; oversees review of plans, specifications, and engineering analyses. Develops long-range strategic plans for facility infrastructure and physical plant needs, ensuring alignment with Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) objectives and VISN/department priorities. Ensures compliance with all accrediting, regulatory, and environmental requirements including OSHA, EPA, FDA, and Joint Commission; manages safety programs, life safety initiatives, and risk identification for complex utility systems. Directs administrative management functions, including policy interpretation, development of local procedures, administrative requirements for Engineering Service operations, and preparation of reports and materials for senior leadership review. Plans and executes special projects, national/regional initiatives, and cross-agency activities; develops training priorities, administers training programs, and provides instruction as needed. Maintains effective working relationships with local government agencies, labor unions, professional societies, affiliated universities, research organizations, and national VA program offices. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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. Financial Disclosure Required. 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 evaluation. 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.
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/.
How you will be evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.