Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open only to current, permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

Program Management and Administration

The Deputy Capital Assets Manager (DCAM) works by directing activities relating to the management of all capital assets in the VISN and capital asset portfolio performance as well as strategic planning, station engineering operations, healthcare interior design and environmental management. More specifically, the incumbent is responsible for directing capital and infrastructure assets support programs that in many cases include in excess of a billion dollar portfolio to include capital policy (above and below statutory and policy thresholds), management of capital programs (Major Construction, Minor Construction, Non-Recurring Maintenance [NRM], Clinical Specific Initiatives [CSI], equipment, leasing, energy management, Enhanced­ Use Lease [EUL], enhanced sharing, etc.), asset planning (Strategic Capital Investment Plan), asset life cycle management (formulation, execution, steady-state operations and disposal) for VA's official asset classes (owned and leased buildings and structures, land, utilities, equipment and agreements), portfolio management (investment and performance management), establishing and managing processes and procedures for review and approval mechanisms across the capital asset/infrastructure operation spectrum and serving as coordinator and liaison with other field and V A/VHA central office components.

Budgeting/Financial Management Work

Provides for the Capital Asset Management budgeting and financial execution for all managed programs. This includes budget formulation, justification, and execution; financial management; and financial reporting. The DCAM gathers station requirements for current and future programs inclusive of life-cycle costs and provides advice to management and program personnel on budgetary and finance issues. As top advisor to management, provides budget management for major, unstable programs. Maintains awareness of and information about the overall status of financial resources for the office in order to react to changing situations with timely recommendations. Interacts and negotiates on adjustments or reprogramming in support of major program changes or requirements.

Healthcare Engineering Program Management

Oversees project design programs across the VISN by reviewing, evaluating, and coordinating planning data such as programmed functions, projected space requirements to ensure the applicability of all design requirements (VA owned and adopted) and material/system performance requirements are included in project designs as required. Directs corrective actions on projects where designs are not inclusive or incorrectly applied a design or performance requirement. Ensures value engineering theories and principles are implemented, to assure the most economical methods of construction or construction materials are utilized, and to achieve cost efficiency for the Federal government. Provides VISN guidance and direction on deconflicting design and performance requirements when requested by station staff, Contracting or contractors. Oversees VISN processes for reviewing and concurring on VA design standard waivers, exceptions, variances and abeyances ahead of submission to the VA/VHA Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for the controlling code or standard.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible:May be considered
Telework: Available on an Ad-Hoc basis
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: HA493-50012-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure: Not Required

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 dentification 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 1 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 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.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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.

• Grandfathering Provision. (See note under Additional Information)
• Foreign Education. (See note under Education)
• 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: Healthcare Engineer, GS-14.
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 current and evolving concepts and principles of general engineering to resolve novel or obscure problems; extend and modify techniques; develop new approaches that guide other engineers who solve a variety of technical problems; and/or apply new, innovative or experimental advanced engineering theories, developments or practices to problems or studies not susceptible to treatment by acceptable methods.
• Skill in construction, capital planning and multiple healthcare system portfolio management, inclusive of budget development and tracking.
• Skill in collaborating with persons having diverse viewpoints, goals or objectives to achieve a common understanding of the problem and a satisfactory solution of sometimes controversial and far-reaching matters through active participation in conferences, meetings or presentations.
• Ability to interpret broad guidelines and exercise considerable judgment and ingenuity in interpreting and adapting existing guides; in developing new and improved hypotheses, concepts or approaches not previously tested or reported; and/or in developing new policies that advance the organization.
• Ability to coordinate and interact with regional facilities, national and Department-level staff for the implementation and coordination of policies and program plans to apply prioritization methodologies that align facilities' capital asset requests and develop infrastructure options that result in the efficacious use of a regional healthcare organization capital strategic plan.
• Ability to adapt and apply trends in healthcare delivery systems that impact long-term capital assets (such as aging equipment and physical plants) for regionally integrated healthcare systems.
• Ability to consult and collaborate with all organizational levels in a national healthcare organization, outside organizations and businesses regarding both strategic and financial activities of a regional healthcare organization.

Assignment. For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This position serves as the national or VISN engineer for all activities related to engineering operations, compliance and/or construction and leases (major, minor, clinical specific initiative-inclusive of high-tech, high-cost medical equipment installations and nonrecurring maintenance) and capital planning to include budget approval, funding allocation and activation. Healthcare Engineers oversee project design programs for all VAMCs and CBOCs by reviewing, evaluating and coordinating planning data such as projected space requirements and strategic, operational, program and design requirements. They coordinate national or VISN capital investment submissions and provide guidance on investment categories, strategies, financial planning and budgeting. Healthcare Engineers provide technical expertise on capital asset proposals and develop guidelines and data tools in completing the application, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Earned Value Analysis, Alternatives Analysis and Risk Analysis.

Preferred Experience:

• Preferred at least 5 years' experience in a Chief or Assistant Chief Engineer of Operations position at a VHA healthcare facility
• Preferred at least 5 years' experience in managing VA healthcare design and construction projects
• Preferred experience in VA capital asset management and planning data systems to include the Strategic Capital Investment Program (SCIP), Capital Asset Inventory (CAI), Facility Master Planning, Capital Asset Database, and operating plan development and execution
• Preferred experience communicating and providing feedback to executive leadership regarding space and project management requirements.

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).

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/150, Part II, Appendix G72, March 18, 2022. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Both hands required; Repeated bending (1/2 hour); Climbing, legs only (1/2 hour); Hearing (aid permitted)

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for 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; 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.