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Interior Designer

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Birmingham Health Care Systems, Engineering Services

Summary

Incumbent serves as the Interior Designer in the Office of the Chief, Engineering Service and is responsible for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive Interior Design program and signage program.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/12/2026 to 03/17/2026
Salary
$75,431 to - $98,066 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Birmingham, AL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBTB-12900599-26-BW
Control number
860553400

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Duties

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  • Serves as the senior interior design coordinator and development on nonrecurring maintenance and construction type projects.
  • Provides technical and administrative assistance to coworkers and contractors.
  • Determines the requirements of the facility for maintaining adequate interior finishes of facilities and for the improvement of existing facilities for the support of patient care and changing or new medical care programs.
  • Creates architectural and furnishing layouts for the facilities.
  • Prepares the necessary visual aids such as architectural drawings, sketches, renderings, and color boards in order to adequately design and prepare facilities for the hospital. This includes preparing preliminary plans for nonrecurring and station level construction projects.
  • Prepares floor plans, furnishings and accessory selections.
  • Independently prepares and maintains interior design FCP budget.
  • Develops cost estimates to cover furnishings required for projects included in budget submission.
  • Prepares and reviews cost estimates for the proposed and approved projects in order to obtain approval for accomplishment and funding within the nonrecurring and station level construction projects.
  • Conducts evaluations of interior design program for compliance with the Department of Veterans Affairs requirements, OSHA standards and TJC standards and regulations regarding provisions for handicapped persons and signage packages in compliance with ADA regulations and construction standards.
  • Responsible for complex signage and way finding systems, room numbering systems, exterior signage and Braille requirements.
  • Procure and supervise fabrication and placement of all interior and exterior signs.
  • Performs variety of space planning functions.
  • Performs surveys of buildings to maintain current overall awareness of facilities and general environmental conditions.
  • Provides advice and information on a wide range of projects, including project status, progress and/or problems to supervisor or upper level management as required.
  • Conducts independent investigations and feasibility studies in response to large scale, complex space allocation requirements for both unoccupied space and reconfiguration of existing space.
  • Holds conference and interview with clients, management and office personnel to define scope of work; analyzes work functions and requirements; gathers data relating to details of furniture, equipment, utilities and other special needs.
  • Advises on ergonomic issues/employee accommodation products.
  • Advises on adequacy and adaptability of space. Facilities assigned include various clinics with special needs (dental, audiology, eye, operating room, emergency room, radiology/imaging, laboratory, mental health, gerontology spinal cord injury, MRI, occupational/physical therapy, hemodialysis, biohazard and clean room design).
  • Evaluates special needs of outpatient clinics.
  • Other Duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD091860
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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
  • 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, 03/17/2026.

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-09. 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:

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): This occupational series has experience and education which must be met in addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position.

Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education Major study -- interior design or other field that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in interior designs, interior architectures or interior environmental design or passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examinations. OR
Experience
: 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.
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
    • Experience in a variety of methods, techniques, and materials used in architectural and interior designs needs for the facility; including construction knowledge and skill to prepare all necessary scaled architectural floor plans, space layouts, reflected ceiling plans, finish plans, working drawings, specifications, detailed drawings for custom work and furniture fabrication.
    • Experience with scaled floor plans and symbols used therein, both for interpreting and for producing accurate drawings.
    • Experience using AUTOCAD architectural software.
    • Experience building systems and construction techniques to understand the limitations imposed on space design.
    • Experience in clinical technology for specific Health Care Design such as hemodialysis special needs; biohazards and clean room design, etc.
    • Experience procuring furnishings, signage, and equipment to meet contract procurement requirements. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, in interior design, interior architecture, interior environmental design or other related field. NOTE: Transcripts must be provided. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Bachelor's degree leading to such a degree or LL.M, in interior design, interior architecture, interior environmental design or other related field is. NOTE: Transcripts must be provided.

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: Regularly conducts onsite inspections of project work sites. Much time is spent walking, sitting, bending, lifting some furniture, standing and stooping. Frequently the employee is required to work on stepladders to measure for window and wall coverings and to install signage. Dexterity is required related to duties performed in drafting, sketching, and writing.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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 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 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.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.

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