Summary The Interior Designer is responsible for planning, implementation and operational management of a complete Interior Design program. This position is located at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT. Responsibilities Duties but not limited to: Utilize Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Drafting Software to maintain accurate records of project in all stages. Use knowledge of interior design, building systems and construction methods, esthetics, psychology, environmental concerns, budget and cost, logistics, safety/ergonomics, and historic preservation to create designs and furnish buildings and medical facilities. Prepare architectural drawings, renderings, color boards and PowerPoint presentations to effectively communicate design plans to medical staff. Prepare preliminary space plans for proposed projects, including detailed specifications to evaluate alternatives. Utilize computer equipment with a wide variety of software to input and retrieve data as required, produce letters, memorandums, and to prepare a variety of specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, desktop publishing, graphics, and other similar products. Maintain an interior design file system that includes drawings, specifications, budgets, project information, government contracts, requests for interior design services, and regulations pertaining to interior design. Maintain a resource library of catalogs for furniture, window treatments, wall coverings, patient-cubicle curtains, floor coverings, wall art, and all other design-related items. Perform the duties of the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and maintain all contract administration files in accordance with VA policies and procedures. Coordinate facility paint, flooring and ceiling/lighting schedule with appropriate construction crews. Originate orders for furnishings, window treatments, floor coverings, wall art, ambient lighting, and all other interior design-related accoutrements. Specify color and finish selections to ensure that maintenance, condition of existing areas, end user needs, and compliance with the overall design objective are met. Ensure new signage/directional graphics meet the requirements of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and effectively informs/directs patients, visitors, and staff. Maintain recurring funds and budgeting projects that may involve millions of dollars in non-recurring funds. Develop cost estimates to cover furnishings required for projects included in budget submissions. Work with supervisor to prepare 5-year interior design plan, 5-year Strategic Plan, including the operating budget. Serve as an active member of all committees that impact the Interior Design program. Respond to requests, complaints, etc., related to interior design functions. Perform other related duties as assigned. Preferred Experience: Bachelor Degree or certificate in Interior Design, Architecture. Computer-based software design proficiency, Space Planning and Furniture Design/Layout and floorplan development, Branding, Architectural and Finish Master Specifications, Textile Technology, Life Safety, Commercial and Healthcare Design experience. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD02369-A and PD90085A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/25/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that required the performance of work concerned with the design and alteration of interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs such as: Identifying, researching, and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment. Performing services relative to interior spaces, including programming, design analysis, space planning and aesthetics, using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components, building codes, equipment, materials, and furnishings. Preparing drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces in order to enhance and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Coordinating and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering disciplines within the interior @context. Managing projects, developing cost estimates, evaluating bid proposals, reviewing construction documents, participating in on-site construction visits, conducting pre- and post-occupancy evaluations, developing standards for efficient space management, etc. Note: Resume must clearly support the duties and experience required for this position. We will not make assumptions regarding experience. OR Education: Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in interior design or other field that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in interior design, interior architecture, or interior environmental design or that was supplemented by passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. (Transcripts Required and/or proof of NCIDQ examination passage required) OR Combination: Combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above to meet the total qualification requirements. (Transcripts Required) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: Work can vary from seated at a desk in front of a computer to extensive walking throughout the facility/grounds (interior and exterior) and visitation to construction sites and several off-site facilities. Work may require some lifting (
