Summary This position is located in the Project Section, Engineering Service, at the VA Coastal Health Care System in Fayetteville, NC. The primary duties of the position involve coordinating, technical overview, and inspection of construction projects and programs and knowledge of AutoCad. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION This position has other technical assignments involving application of engineering principles using judgment and accepted engineering design and construction practices. Planning: Meets with appropriate users to determine functional requirements, approach, technical requirements, temporary needs, impacts of construction, etc. and prepares statements of work, sketches, drawings, specifications and cost estimates and other documentation as needed. Develops plans for temporary workspaces or other necessary infrastructure to insure continuity of operations during construction. Applies a broad knowledge of methods, precedents, codes and standards to ensure compliance, quality and optimum results. Performs or directs surveys and investigations to establish baseline data necessary to establish approach and initiate design. Evaluates baseline data and incorporates salient factors into design considerations and solutions. Design: Works to develop broad and complex electrical, plumbing, mechanical, pneumatic systems, digital control systems, civil, structural and architectural layouts, complete with specifications. Conducts research and studies and interprets precedent designs, VA Design Handbooks and Construction Standards, manufacturers' literature, trade journals, and standard specifications in exercising judgment and selection of the best available design and/or layout. Prepares all necessary detailed cost estimates and associated documentation for funding consideration in the appropriate program (Major, Minor, NRM, P&H, SLP). Prepares and modifies design drawings using AutoCAD or hand sketches as directed. Determines, or assists in, selection of materials and equipment to be used and construction methods and standards to be used on projects. Reviews VA and other applicable codes to insure appropriate selection of materials and methods. Specifications: Writes specifications for construction of building and utility system installations and alterations, roadways, parking lots, walkways, and other medical center needs and ensures that construction methods are in conformance with applicable VA standards and industry codes. Selects, writes and edits specifications that will efficiently, effectively and economically satisfy design requirements. Performs technical review of documents prepared by A/E firms as necessary to ensure accuracy and coordination. Construction Administration: Prepares detailed cost estimates for use in obtaining project funding and conducts bid evaluations. Prepares correspondence, technical reports, estimates, factsheets, status reports, meeting minutes and schedules as required to complete project assignments. Consults with contractor personnel to resolve difficult and complex unforeseen problems and latent conditions developing during construction. Reviews and evaluates project submittals, shop drawings, samples and material certifications submitted by contractor for contract and performance requirements, for ultimate approval or rejection. General: Develops plans for construction phasing, temporary relocation requirements, utility outages, work area needs, as well as other details associated with each assigned project. Provides assistance to the Assistant Chief, Engineering Service, or Chief, Engineering Service, as required/directed in the solution of all assigned engineering problems or administrative tasks. Assists a wide variety of Maintenance & Repair Section personnel, when requested by supervisor, in researching as-built construction documents and troubleshooting complex infrastructure/ utility systems throughout the medical center. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of sitting or standing in one position, climbing up ladders and crawling under buildings, visiting active demolition and construction sites, and sometimes being exposed to the elements. There is occasional exposure to high voltage, high noise levels, and the possibility of electrical shock, burns, cuts, and bruises. Employee must be capable of applying physical dexterity when necessary to reach or check work in crawl spaces, elevated areas or locations of difficult access. Inspections may also require carrying of moderate loads such as tools and measuring equipment common to the position. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Driver's License Requirement: Must possess a current, permanent state-issued Driver's License to operate a motor vehicle. (Please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. You will be required to show your valid commercial driver's license at the time of your interview.) ~AND~ To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-10) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Engineering Technician. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes; Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. At this grade level, experience should include planning, scheduling, coordinating, and monitoring implementation and installation phases on construction projects; conducting price negotiations pertaining to construction contracts; and reading and interpreting engineering and architectural drawing, working with CAD staff and utilizing AutoCAD programs, specifications and technical data. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education that is directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position, such as engineering, construction, or industrial technology. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond master's degree) and specialized experience, as described above. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation.
