Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Deputy) Temporary Promotion/Detail NTE 1-Year

Veterans Health Administration • Pittsburgh, PA

10h • Onsite

About The Position

This temporary promotion/detail opportunity, not to exceed one year, serves as Deputy (Assistant Chief) of Engineering Service at a multi-faceted VA Medical Center and its affiliated Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The role manages and provides professional leadership for Engineering programs, including maintenance and repair, utility plant operations, energy management and conservation, vehicle fleet, grounds, capital planning, and construction project management. The position requires in-person reporting to VA Pittsburgh Medical Center facilities. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; telework is ad hoc only, and the position is not virtual.

The Deputy plans, organizes, directs, evaluates, and manages Service Line programs and establishes qualitative and quantitative standards. The position provides Executive Leadership Team and clinical staff with information and guidance on integrating Engineering, Maintenance, Capital Management, and related programs into the Medical Center mission. The Deputy acts with the full authority of the Chief in the Chief’s absence and provides authoritative advice on engineering matters. The role also supports long- and short-range planning, policy development, and budgeting, and provides technical consultation to the Chief Engineer.

The position collaborates with operations and program managers to align Engineering Service goals and priorities, and helps stakeholders understand clinical program needs alongside engineering, technical, facility, and infrastructure requirements. Responsibilities also include identifying functional requirements and life-cycle costs, monitoring financial resources, negotiating adjustments or reprogramming for major program changes, researching and analyzing facility and Engineering Service issues, and advising on complex program matters.

The Deputy provides engineering and architectural advice to VISN offices and other engineers on topics such as the Strategic Capital Investment Plan, Capital Asset Inventory, Capital Asset Resource Survey, deferred maintenance, and engineering department management. The position mentors newer engineers, meets national, VISN, and Medical Center performance standards, develops and maintains performance tracking and reporting systems, and reviews or directs the review of plans, specifications, and design analyses prepared by subordinate engineers and technicians.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture from an appropriately accredited curriculum, or evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam with a bachelor’s degree, or current professional registration/licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12, including independent work under general supervision, healthcare engineering and capital expertise, leadership of healthcare engineering programs and technology integration, and complex healthcare construction project planning and execution.
• Knowledge of healthcare system resource management, 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 skills with internal and external 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 healthcare programs.
• Ability to assess evolving situations and use initiative, self-direction, and assigned resources to resolve issues.
• Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement solutions that improve operational efficiency.
• Ability to anticipate, develop, and implement strategies supporting short- and long-term healthcare system goals in a changing environment.
• Ability to ensure compliance with healthcare standards and regulatory requirements, including TJC, OSHA, and NFPA, as they relate to healthcare engineering.
• Ability to interview candidates, recommend personnel actions, evaluate performance, and identify training needs.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation; complete required onboarding and application documentation.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Meet the applicable trial-period condition for accepting the position in permanent status.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, evaluate, and manage Engineering Service programs and establish qualitative and quantitative standards.
• Provide Executive Leadership Team and clinical staff with information and guidance on integrating Engineering, Maintenance, Capital Management, and related programs into the Medical Center mission.
• Act in the full authority and capacity of the Chief in the Chief’s absence and provide authoritative advice on engineering matters.
• Participate in long- and short-range planning, policy development, and budgeting for the Medical Center and Engineering Service programs.
• Provide management support and technical expert consultation to the Chief Engineer.
• Collaborate with operations and program managers to align Engineering Service goals and priorities.
• Facilitate stakeholder understanding of clinical program needs and related engineering, technical, facility, and infrastructure requirements and capabilities.
• Identify functional requirements for current and future programs, including life-cycle costs.
• Monitor the office’s financial resources and negotiate adjustments or reprogramming in response to major program changes or requirements.
• Research and analyze facility and Engineering Service problems, issues, and program requirements; provide expert analysis and advice on complex program issues.
• Provide technical engineering and architectural advice to VISN offices and other engineers on capital planning, asset inventory, deferred maintenance, and engineering department management.
• Mentor newer engineers in managing an engineering department.
• Meet national, VISN, and Medical Center program performance standards.
• Develop and maintain performance monitoring, tracking, and reporting systems.
• Review or direct the review of plans, specifications, and design analyses submitted by subordinate engineers and engineering technicians.
• Interview candidates for positions in the section; recommend appointments, advancements, or disciplinary actions when appropriate; evaluate performance and identify training needs.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package is available to the employee and family, subject to position and eligibility rules.
• Selected applicants may request consideration of prior work or military service for annual leave accrual credit; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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