Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 04/24/2026

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a)
• English Language Proficiency
• Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture-Transcripts MUST BE submitted
• To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum
• Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include, but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering
• Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time
• -OR- Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree
• Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score
• -OR- Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect
• Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico
• **If claiming education or certification as proof of meeting basic requirements, documents are required to be submitted with application
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable, engineering, architecture or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b
• of this appendix
• Note: The evaluation document must be submitted with your application
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade level specified
• Supervisory Healthcare Engineer, GS-13
• Experience
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level which include but are not limited to the following: Healthcare Engineers demonstrate grasp of high order healthcare engineering
• They serve as institutional resources for healthcare delivery processes and systems, by leading healthcare engineering programs, technology assessments, integration planning and implementation of both current and emerging technologies
• Healthcare Engineers support the delivery of healthcare to Veterans by contributing to the education of clinical staff, planners and leadership to ensure safe and efficient healthcare delivery
• Healthcare Engineers plan, execute and document highly complex, multi-faceted healthcare facility construction projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets
• They identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures, as it relates to the healthcare environment
• They work independently, under general supervision with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment
• AND Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs on their resume and in their experience: Knowledge of data analysis techniques related to managing workload, quality, performance and productivity within the area of responsibility
• Knowledge related to the management of overall department resources, (i.e., finances space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing) at the local level
• Knowledge of the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, training and development, recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions
• Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships, leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, labor representatives and managers
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations
• Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare engineering management
• Ability to recognize and assess evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions
• Assignment
• At this grade level, Supervisory Healthcare Engineers are assigned at the facility level, supervising professional engineers and other support positions at GS-13 equivalent and below
• Supervisory Healthcare Engineers exercise the full range of supervisory responsibility to include development of performance standards and performance evaluations
• recommendations for appointment, awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions
• and identification of continuing training needs, etc
• They provide complex professional engineering advice to peers, subordinates and/or non-professional administrators/managers
• They review technical plans, specifications and analyses of design as submitted by subordinates
• Supervisory Healthcare Engineers provide professional advice to improve such plans, specifications and analyses
• They advise subordinate personnel on methods and procedures to be used in special studies on highly complex projects
• Supervisory Healthcare Engineers oversee subordinate professionals' work
• They are the technical authority, providing expert advice pertaining to the maintenance of facilities, structures or landscapes that may involve large geographic regions
• Supervisory Healthcare Engineers review subordinates' activity plans, specifications and cost estimates for technical adequacy and feasibility
• They oversee maintenance standards for advanced equipment or systems technology
• Supervisory Healthcare Engineers provide for the budgeting and financial management for engineering
• They supervise a staff to accomplish the construction work and maintenance of the organization
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required, e.g., walking, standing, climbing ladders, stooping, kneeling, and carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle.