Summary This position serves as the the Associate Chief Engineer, Maintenance and Operations (M&O) with responsibility for the Operations and Maintenance section at a multi-faceted and affiliated VA Medical Center, including outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The Associate Chief Engineer (M&O) utilizes expertise in engineering, maintenance, operations, construction, contract management, accounting, personnel management to enhance the medical center's safe and reliable heathcare environment. Responsibilities Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to the following: Serves as the key operations and maintenance advisor, reporting directly to the Chief of Engineering Service. Serves as a responsible leader and member of the Facilities Management Services team, providing authoritative advice on all aspects of operations and maintenance matters. Provides matrix management support and technical expert consultation to the Chief of Engineering Service on all operations and maintenance issues. Makes recommendations to the Chief of Engineering Service for final approval on operations and maintenance matters. Holds responsibility and accountability for all aspects of the Medical Center's Operations and Maintenance program and oversight. Collaborates with medical center leadership, service line peers, internal and external customers, operations staff, and program managers to ensure integrated goals and priorities for all projects are met. Serves as supervisor of all maintenance and operations and related construction activities occurring at VAMC Syracuse and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Plans, organizes, directs, evaluates, and manages processes for the Operations and Maintenance Section, including establishing qualitative and quantitative standards. Provides professional and technical guidance, direction, and review of all assigned programs, exercising professional judgment and original thinking in decision-making. Applies sound technical knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, civil, clinical, safety and fire protection, and industrial engineering, as well as architecture, industrial hygiene, and computer sciences. Utilizes various computer systems and software packages, including computer-aided design (CADD) systems, to support program operations. Applies thorough knowledge of JCAHO, OSHA, NFPA, and VA standards and regulations governing Engineering Service operations at VAMC Syracuse. Manages human resource functions within the Operations and Maintenance Section, including hiring, performance management, and training and development. Ensures internal personnel-related programs are administered in a timely and efficient manner. Communicates agency and local policies and priorities to all employees within the section. Delegates authority and responsibility to subordinates to carry out assigned tasks, monitors progress, and recommends improvements where warranted. Ensures labor/management relations are maintained in accordance with Medical Center policy and procedures. Enforces effective use of performance standards, EEO policies, and other personnel-related rules and regulations. Provides technical advice on a wide range of operations and maintenance issues. Supervises, plans, controls, monitors, staff, and evaluates all maintenance and repair, plant operation, and construction activities at VAMC Syracuse and CBOCs. Mentors new Operations and Maintenance Section employees, supporting their development to successfully perform their duties. Participates on Station, VISN, and national committees and work groups, collaborating with representatives from across the Medical Center, VACO, and VHA HEFP Enterprise Support Services. Assists the Chief Engineer in managing the Engineering Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) for equipment assigned to Engineering Service. Perform other assigned duties. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday - Friday, 6:30am to 3:00pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 39196F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one 2 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. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency. Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of the management of overall healthcare system resources, (i.e., finances, space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing). (b) Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications as related to healthcare facilities Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships with internal and external customers, stakeholders, executive leadership, labor representatives and managers Skill in balancing priorities, delegating tasks and meeting multiple competing deadlines Skill in interpreting broad or general national policies and guidelines and adapting/applying them to specific compliant programs at the local healthcare system Skill in recognizing and assessing evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions Ability to analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions that result in efficient operations Ability to anticipate, develop and implement strategies in meeting the healthcare system's short term and long-term strategic goals in a highly fluid environment Ability to ensure compliance with healthcare industry standards and regulatory agency and organization (including but not limited to TJC, OSHA, NFPA, etc.), regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering Ability to interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education and training needs 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 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 to determine the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages people with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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.
