KEY REQUIREMENTS



• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.

This position is located within the Capital Asset Management Division of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 1 and is responsible for interior design services at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, and will participate as a team member with the VISN 1 Interior Design Group by developing and maintaining interior design programs for the medical facilities within VISN 1 that includes Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut and Vermont.

 

Major duties include:

·         Participating in the development of a design scheme/approach to create a patient-centered model of care;

·         Coordinating and developing a complete and continuing interior design plan for all areas of the medical center;

·         Selecting paint colors, materials, wall art, wall coverings, floor coverings, furnishings, fixtures, and all other items used in the refurbishment of patient, visitor, and employee areas within the medical center;

·         Developing diagrammatic sketches of offices, patient rooms, etc.;

·         Maintaining a current record of what is required for each service to maintain safe and desirable working conditions;

·         Preparing and presenting detailed professional plans, sketches, and overlays;

·         Reviewing renovation and construction projects and providing design consultation;

·         Preparing equipment and furniture listings for all assigned projects;

·         Developing cost estimates for projects;

·         Controlling all furnishings and coordinating all furniture moves;

·         Maintaining a program for refurbishing furniture;

·         Developing and maintaining a comprehensive resource library of interior design literature;

·         Conducting evaluations of program aspects to ensure compliance with requirements and standards of the Veterans Health Administration;

·         Maintaining records on all delivery, storage, and disposition of furnishing items;

·         Performing related duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.

***RELOCATION EXPENSES AND/OR INCENTIVES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED***

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: One (1) year of specialized experience that required the performance of work concerned with the design and alteration of interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-09 level of Federal service. Examples of experience include: 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; and 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. (*Your experience must be detailed in your resume to receive full credit.

 

OR

 

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree that included a major study in interior design, a field that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in interior design, interior architecture, or interior environmental design, or passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination may be substituted for the experience required at the GS-11 level. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. If you are using education to qualify, transcripts are requested.

 

OR

 

COMBINATION: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and progressively higher level graduate education that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this position may be substituted for the experience required at the GS-11 level. To calculate the combination of education and experience, determine the amount of experience you have as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Then determine the amount of education you have as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Add the two percentages; the total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify for the grade level. Only education in excess of 36 semester hours (2 years) may be used to qualify for the GS-11. If you qualify by a combination, your experience must be detailed and transcripts are requested.

You will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs) as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

·         Knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional interior design and space planning in a medical facility

·         Knowledge of current furniture, technology, and finish products and their impact in the work place

·         Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain working relationships in a multi-disciplinary environment

 

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications .

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

As part of your application package, you are also requested to submit an OF 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, which includes Certification of Selective Service Registration (January 2001 version or later).

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.  Please refer to this checklist to ensure proper accreditation and for foreign education requirements.

Veteran's Preference:

When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.). Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability.

Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, non service-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed " SF15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," (go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) and required documentation with your application materials. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

 

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants will be ranked based on four quality groups, as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

After the vacancy announcement closes, reviewed applications are evaluated against the questionnaire responses and placed in the appropriate quality group.  Qualified veterans will be afforded preference by being placed at the top of the appropriate quality group.  Qualifying veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be placed at the top of the best qualified group.  The best qualified group is the first to be referred to the hiring facility for further consideration and possible interview.  The remaining groups may be referred based on the number of applicants available.

VA offers a comprehensive benefits package.  This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered:  http://www4.va.gov/jobs/job_benefits/benefits.asp. 

The Federal Government has special appointing authorities for persons with qualifying disabilities (go to http://www.opm.gov/disability/peoplewithdisabilities.asp).   For additional information on these, and other special appointing authorities, refer to this checklist or contact the hiring Human Resources Management Service at Human Resources - 05
940 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301
.

OTHER INFORMATION:

VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application (See "Required Documents" section below).  The complete Application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Wednesday, November 16, 2011.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button at the bottom of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.  Be sure to upload the required documents before you submit your application.  Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.  Mailed/emailed applications will not be accepted.

Note: To change or update your application, simply reapply through My USAJOBS, before the closing date.  To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/account/login?returnurl=~/applicant/myaccount/home), select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire: View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the occupational questionnaire: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf .
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with all supporting documents to (478)757-3144.  Your 1203FX form must be placed on top of all materials being faxed and will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
4. Keep a copy of your fax receipt in case verification is needed.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:

1. Complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID: 554714.  You must use this fax cover sheet in order for your documents to be matched with your online application.
2. Fax your documents to (478)757-3144.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The following documents are required:

1. Resume
2. Responses to the Occupational Questionnaire
3. Other documents - use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for well-qualified, displaced Federal employees), or documentation to support Veterans Preference claims.  You will not be contacted for additional information.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After the vacancy announcement closes and a referral certificate is issued, an electronic notification letter - or e-mail - will be sent to applicants who provide an e-mail address.  Otherwise, you will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service within 2 to 4 weeks.