Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy)

Veterans Health Administration • Hot Springs, SD

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy) is responsible for professional Engineering Service programs at a multi-faceted VA Medical Center and affiliated outpatient clinics. Programs include maintenance and repair, utility plant operations, energy management and conservation, safety, fire prevention, industrial hygiene, emergency preparedness, green environmental management, vehicle fleet, grounds, capital planning, and construction project management.

Reporting directly to the Chief Engineer, the role strengthens healthcare facility engineering and operations and serves as a key managerial advisor. In the Chief Engineer’s absence, the incumbent acts with the Chief’s full authority and provides authoritative advice on engineering matters. The position participates in significant Medical Center management planning, policy, and decision-making, except for matters primarily medical in nature, and contributes to long- and short-range planning, policy development, and budgeting for the Medical Center and Engineering Service.

The position provides management support and technical consultation across Engineering Service, makes significant decisions affecting the service, and collaborates with operations and program managers and other service lines. It helps stakeholders understand clinical program needs and related engineering, technical, facility, and infrastructure requirements and capabilities, while supporting VISN and Medical Center goals and priorities.

The incumbent plans, organizes, directs, evaluates, and manages Engineering Service, establishes qualitative and quantitative standards, and advises executive leadership and clinical staff on integrating engineering programs into the Medical Center’s mission. The position provides professional and technical guidance across disciplines including civil, electrical, mechanical, structural, environmental, fire safety, and safety engineering. It also oversees human resources matters, workforce and succession planning, organizational changes, employee communications, delegation, performance management, labor-management relations, and compliance with personnel policies.

Occasional travel is required for conferences, facility and VISN site visits, meetings, specialized equipment or systems training, and other professional development. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc at the supervisor’s discretion; the position is not virtual. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture from an appropriately accredited program; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree and evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, or current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect.
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade, including independent work under general supervision; expertise in healthcare engineering and capital matters; leadership of healthcare engineering programs, technology assessments, integration planning, and implementation; and planning and documenting complex healthcare facility construction projects and inspections.
• Knowledge of healthcare system resources, including finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules, and staffing.
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, and other engineering or architectural principles and their application to healthcare facilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal relationship management with customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives, and managers.
• Ability to balance priorities, delegate tasks, and meet competing deadlines.
• Ability to interpret broad national policies and guidelines and apply them to compliant local programs.
• Ability to assess evolving scenarios and use initiative, self-direction, and available resources to resolve issues.
• Ability to analyze organizational problems and implement effective solutions for efficient operations.
• Ability to develop and implement strategies to meet short- and long-term healthcare system goals in a changing environment.
• Ability to ensure compliance with healthcare standards and applicable regulatory requirements, including TJC, OSHA, and NFPA.
• Ability to interview candidates, recommend appointments or advancements and, when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance; and identify training needs.
• Must hold a current, valid state-issued driver’s license and pass a pre-employment driving physical examination.
• Must meet background and security investigation requirements, complete onboarding and application requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen and enhance healthcare facility engineering and operations.
• Advise the Chief Engineer and act with the Chief’s full authority in the Chief’s absence.
• Participate in significant Medical Center management planning, policy, decision-making, long- and short-range planning, and budgeting.
• Provide management support and technical expert consultation on Engineering Service programs.
• Make decisions and maintain accountability for issues affecting Engineering Service.
• Collaborate with operations and program managers and other service lines to meet Engineering Service priorities and customer needs.
• Facilitate stakeholder understanding of clinical program needs and related engineering, technical, facility, and infrastructure requirements and capabilities.
• Support VISN and Medical Center goals, missions, and priorities.
• Plan, organize, direct, evaluate, and manage Engineering Service, including setting qualitative and quantitative standards.
• Advise executive leadership and clinical staff on methods and procedures for integrating engineering programs into the Medical Center’s mission.
• Provide professional and technical guidance and review for engineering programs across civil, electrical, mechanical, structural, environmental, fire safety, and safety engineering disciplines.
• Oversee human resources matters, including workforce and succession plans, organizational changes, employee communications, delegation, performance standards, labor-management relations, and enforcement of personnel policies.
• Travel occasionally for conferences, site visits, meetings, specialized training, and other training opportunities.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may receive a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income, eligible-child, and maximum-benefit limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior