Supervisory Healthcare Engineer

Veterans Health Administration • Syracuse, NY

7d • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the Associate Chief Engineer, Maintenance and Operations (M&O), responsible for the Operations and Maintenance Section at a multifaceted and affiliated VA Medical Center and its outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The Associate Chief Engineer applies expertise in engineering, maintenance, operations, construction, contract management, accounting, and personnel management to support a safe and reliable healthcare environment. The role reports directly to the Chief of Engineering Service and provides leadership, technical advice, and oversight for operations, maintenance, repair, plant operation, and construction activities at VAMC Syracuse and its CBOCs.

The position plans, organizes, directs, evaluates, and manages section processes and establishes qualitative and quantitative standards. It provides technical guidance across engineering disciplines and related fields, applies applicable JCAHO, OSHA, NFPA, and VA standards, and uses computer systems and software—including computer-aided design (CADD)—to support program operations. The role also manages staffing and other human-resource functions, communicates policies and priorities, delegates work, supports labor/management relations, and participates in station, VISN, and national committees and work groups.

This is a full-time, permanent, onsite position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Recruitment, relocation, and permanent change-of-station incentives are not authorized. The position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or architecture, or an accepted alternative such as passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination with a bachelor's degree or current professional engineering or architectural registration/licensure. Candidates must also meet the specified experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities requirements.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture from an appropriately accredited program; or a bachelor's degree plus 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.
• Knowledge of data analysis techniques for managing workload, quality, performance, and productivity.
• Knowledge of managing department resources, including finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules, and staffing.
• Knowledge of the full range of supervisory duties, including work assignments, performance evaluations, staff selection, training and development, awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Skill in effective communication and managing interpersonal relationships with employees, team leaders, labor representatives, and managers.
• Ability to balance responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to draft or recommend local healthcare engineering management policies or directives.
• Ability to recognize and assess evolving situations and use initiative, self-direction, and assigned resources to resolve them.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; complete required onboarding and application requirements.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the key operations and maintenance advisor, reporting directly to the Chief of Engineering Service.
• Provide authoritative advice and matrix management support on operations and maintenance matters; make recommendations to the Chief of Engineering Service for final approval.
• Hold responsibility and accountability for the Medical Center's Operations and Maintenance program and oversight.
• Collaborate with medical center leadership, service line peers, customers, operations staff, and program managers to coordinate project goals and priorities.
• Supervise maintenance, operations, and related construction activities at VAMC Syracuse and its CBOCs.
• Plan, organize, direct, evaluate, and manage Operations and Maintenance Section processes, including establishing qualitative and quantitative standards.
• Provide professional and technical guidance and review for assigned programs, exercising professional judgment in decision-making.
• Apply engineering and related technical knowledge across mechanical, electrical, civil, clinical, safety and fire protection, and industrial engineering, as well as architecture, industrial hygiene, and computer sciences.
• Use computer systems and software packages, including CADD systems, to support program operations.
• Apply JCAHO, OSHA, NFPA, and VA standards and regulations governing Engineering Service operations.
• Manage human-resource functions, including hiring, performance management, training, and development; ensure personnel programs are administered efficiently and on time.
• Communicate agency and local policies and priorities to employees; delegate authority and responsibility, monitor progress, and recommend improvements.
• Maintain labor/management relations in accordance with Medical Center policy and procedures and enforce performance standards, EEO policies, and personnel rules.
• Supervise, plan, control, monitor, staff, and evaluate maintenance and repair, plant operation, and construction activities at VAMC Syracuse and its CBOCs.
• Mentor new Operations and Maintenance Section employees.
• Participate in Station, VISN, and national committees and work groups with Medical Center, VACO, and VHA HEFP Enterprise Support Services representatives.
• Assist the Chief Engineer in managing the Engineering Equipment Inventory Listing for equipment assigned to Engineering Service.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Possibility of credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment for eligible full-time employees, subject to income and other eligibility requirements; subsidy may cover up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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