LTCR Life Safety Code Architect IV
About The Position
Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! Life Safety Code Architect IV – Starting Market Rate Salary $128,136.33. Under the supervision of the Director, this position performs highly advanced (senior-level) architectural work performing the planning, design, and implementation of architectural and construction projects. Provides advanced consultative services and performs leadership functions by providing direction and guidance to highly specialized professionals. Leads complex and large-scope long-term care construction inspections and investigates complaints. Conducts annual, required, and initial surveys to determine compliance with state licensure and/or federal certification requirements. Identifies and writes deficiencies in accordance with program requirements and makes appropriate referrals to state and federal agencies. Accurately interprets codes, rules and regulations and prepares guidance letters. Reviews and approves federal survey reports, trains inspection staff, and coordinates travel. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position offers a competitive starting salary; excellent state benefits, including health insurance and retirement; and the opportunity to regularly travel to different facilities within a region and across the state – Please see the Additional Information section below for more detail on travel. This position is mobile and flexible and performs minimal work at an office, though the role does require writing reports detailing any deficiencies/violations against a facility and narrative to support regulatory determinations.
Requirements
- Knowledge of architectural and design principles, techniques, and procedures.
- Knowledge of construction methods and management.
- Knowledge of engineering specifications related to design work.
- Knowledge of mathematical applications.
- Knowledge of long-term care industry and life safety applications.
- Knowledge of Long-Term Care safety codes.
- Knowledge of conducting long-term care inspections.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of contract construction administration.
- Knowledge of fire safety principles, fire prevention practices, fire and safety hazards, fire control and protection equipment, and disaster preparedness principles.
- Skills in communicating effectively, intelligently, and professionally with public, stakeholders, and other State agencies.
- Skill in composing, editing, and proofreading correspondence and reports.
- Technical writing ability to prepare concise reports and business correspondence.
- Skill in the operation of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, SharePoint, and other applicable software.
- Skill in establishing and managing positive and professional business and working relationships with co-workers, other program personnel, and the public.
- Skill in project management monitoring.
- Skill in making program management decisions impacting service delivery.
- Skill in the use of architectural tools and problem solving.
- Ability to record that information by drafting correspondence.
- Ability to communicate verbally with various facility personnel to obtain required survey information.
- Ability to conduct interviews, record information, prepare case narratives/lengthy documents using word processing.
- Ability to learn, remember and integrate complex concepts and complicated processes involving long-term care Life Safety Code regulations.
- Ability to visualize architectural designs and to apply architectural concepts.
- Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define complex problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to coordinate a substantial workload and oversee/prioritize multiple assignments with minimal supervision, and to exercise independent judgment.
- Ability to independently analyze new situations and respond with sound technical judgment.
- Ability to understand the urgency and set the priorities for the Unit.
- Ability to direct others yet work in a team environment with all levels of staff.
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely.
- Registered as an Architect by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.
- Professional architectural experience that relates to evaluating buildings and structures for code compliance.
Nice To Haves
- Architectural experience with healthcare or long-term care facilities preferred.
Responsibilities
- Conducts on-site licensure inspections, complaint investigations, and annual comprehensive surveys in facilities to determine compliance with federal and state health and safety regulations.
- Completes inspection or survey reports detailing deficiencies and narrative to support regulatory findings.
- Conducts entrance and exit conferences with facility staff regarding findings.
- Visits long-term care facilities to verify correction of previously cited regulatory violations.
- Performs quality assurance reviews of all reports.
- Might supervise the work of team members during inspections and lend expertise to a survey team.
- Communicates clearly and accurately with others (internally and externally) to provide, exchange, or verify information, answer inquiries, or resolve issues or complaints in Texas long-term care facilities.
- Coordinates with agency staff conducting health surveys of health care facilities for certification in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
- Provides high-level technical architectural assistance and interpretation to others on policies, procedures, rules, regulations, or standards.
- Plans and coordinates the design and construction of long-term care facilities, including its complex building systems to ensure codes and requirements are met.
- Provides code and policy interpretation to design professionals, facility directors and the public.
- Consults with other architects and engineers preparing architectural and construction plans to provide information and advice on applicable rules.
- Inspects final construction projects.
- Represents the agency with expert testimony for depositions, hearings, and/or trials involving actions taken against facilities on behalf of facility residents.
- Oversees and conducts field inspections and survey complaint investigations on highly complex and large-scoped long-term care facilities, and evaluates data to ensure compliance with codes, standards, Medicare regulations, and project requirements.
- Makes appropriate professional judgments and applies professional expertise in technical skills on fire safety design in evaluating long-term care facilities.
- Coordinates with contractors, construction managers, and other code officials.
- Coordinates inspection travel.
- Facilitates meetings with long-term care facility representatives (architects, engineers, contractors, long-term care providers, etc.).
- Determines functional and spatial requirements of new structures or renovations.
- Prepares state and federal reports, reduces facts to specific findings, and recommends solutions.
- Oversees and reviews drawings, blueprints, records, technical reports, structure specifications, materials, and equipment.
- Evaluates facility’s corrections for compliance with laws and specifications.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Be available to provide oversight at facility and monitor for life safety code concerns at providers within the LSC scope of work in the event of emergency licensure action.
- Be available for on-call duties for emergencies such as weather events or high-priority situations in facilities or at providers.
Benefits
- 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
- Defined benefit pension plan
- Generous time off benefits
- Numerous opportunities for career advancement
- Competitive starting salary
- Excellent state benefits
- Retirement
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments
- Excellent health benefits
- Lifetime monthly retirement annuity
- 401(k) Program
- 457 Programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Number of Employees
1-10 employees
