Summary The incumbent is responsible for application of engineering concepts to the management of: Occupational and Fire Safety programs; Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) program; Industrial Hygiene program; and Emergency Management program. The incumbent also has critical responsibility for oversight of the facility waterborne pathogens management and legionella prevention programs. This position will be responsible for New York Harbor ( Brooklyn, Manhattan, St. Albans, and CBOCs). Responsibilities The incumbent serves as an expert in the safety, environmental and emergency management of the medical care environment, encompassing the related aspects of all hospital employee functions, visitor activities, building features and critical utility systems. The incumbent provides oversight of safety and environmental issues pertaining to maintenance and construction activities in and adjacent to operational healthcare environments. Safety Management System Oversight and Administration: The NYH Safety Management System (SMS) establishes qualitative and quantitative standards and applies engineering concepts and methodologies to enhance the delivery of healthcare by providing a technologically advanced, safe, and reliable healthcare environment through implementation of the SMS, internal auditing and code enforcement. This position provides technical expertise for all issues related to implementation and function of the SMS. Fire and Life Safety Programs: Supervises the Safety Manager and Safety Specialists and ensures that they properly complete fire drills and routine audits. Ensures effective and timely facility response to all fire alarm system activations, including drills, unintentional activations and actual fire incidents. Advises the Chief of Engineering and other key service chiefs of identified safety deficiencies in their areas of responsibility, makes recommendation and provides guidance regarding necessary corrective measures to be implemented by the responsible service. Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Program Management: The Chief of the Safety and Emergency Management Service has primary responsibility for managing the GEMS program in accordance with applicable VHA Directives and regulatory standards. Industrial Hygiene Program Management: The incumbent supervises and guides the GEMS/IH Supervisor and Industrial Hygienists in the operation of the Industrial Hygiene program and has ultimate responsibility in ensuring that NYH campuses maintain compliance with Federal, State and local environmental laws and regulations related to Industrial Hygiene. Emergency Management Program: Supervises and supports the NYH Emergency Manager in ensuring that the healthcare system develops and maintains a vigorous emergency management program including comprehensive training, preparedness drills, policies and standard operating procedures. Waterborne Pathogens Program Management: Oversees the legionella and waterborne pathogens prevention program in accordance with VHA Directives and policies. Manages the NYH Water Safety Committee and ensures that water sampling data are properly obtained and recorded. Performs other duties as assigned. Supervisory Duties: The incumbent has responsibility for the selection, evaluation, initiation, or promotion of subordinate employees within the Safety and Emergency Management Service. Selects, supervises, and coordinates activities of subordinates and is responsible for leave approval, performance standards and ratings, and planning and establishing work activities. The incumbent exercises authority to provide recommendations for the full range of personnel actions and organizational proposals. Reviews and approves technical reports, policies, and other work products submitted by safety service employees. Provides professional advice to staff in order to improve the quality of work products. Advises subordinate personnel on methods and procedures to be used on highly complex reports and oversees their work. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm; Monday-Friday Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Functional Statement #: 11610F 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. English Language Proficiency : You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Education (must meet one of the following): a. Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. 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 b. 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 c. 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. Supervisory Healthcare Engineer GS-13 Qualifications: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-13 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of data analysis techniques related to managing workload, quality, performance and productivity within the area of responsibility. b. Knowledge related to the management of overall department resources, (i.e., finances space, equipment, supplies, schedules and staffing) at the local level. c. 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. d. Skill in using effective communication in managing interpersonal relationships, leading and dealing with employees, team leaders, labor representatives and managers. e. 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. f. Ability to draft and/or recommend local policies and/or directives related to healthcare engineering management. g. Ability to recognize and assess evolving scenarios, utilizing initiative, self-direction and assigned resources to affect resolutions. NOTE: Direct health care experience is not required to qualify for a GS-801 Healthcare Engineer. Candidates with Engineering experience in a hospital or healthcare system should be able to address the knowledge skills and abilities as it applies to the position. Engineers that may not have worked in a hospital or healthcare system should ensure it is clear in their application how their non-healthcare related knowledge, skill or ability can be applied to the assignment and to the healthcare engineering occupation. 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: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G72 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of office spaces as well as healthcare clinical areas. The incumbent may occasionally be required to work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in areas such as roofs, mechanical spaces, boiler rooms, utility tunnels, laundry plants, electrical vaults and hazardous materials storage locations. 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/traveling by motor vehicle. These activities may be performed during routine, periodic construction oversight activities and/or to observe work operations in clinical, mechanical or other areas of the hospitals. Work may also include occasional lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 50 pounds, such as equipment and samples. 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 Receiving Service Credit or 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. 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 position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.