Clarification from the agency

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) eligibles may apply for consideration who are (a) preference eligibles, or (b) Veterans whose most recent military separation was under honorable conditions after substantially completing at least 3 years of continuous active military service may compete under merit promotion procedures. Current permanent Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) employees may apply and will be considered in the same manner as a current VA employee.

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Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Manage and direct the work of professional, technical, and administrative personnel.
• Apply the latest developments in facility engineering to resolve problems for which accepted methods are not directly applicable and to review plans, design, and specifications for the improvement or alteration of existing or planned construction of new facilities.
• Perform functional tests, interpreting and applying a broad range of technical data.
• Evaluate operational characteristics of the integrated systems by observing and analyzing waveforms, voltage/current/power indications, computer software or printouts, optical presentations, and instrument readings.
• Manage budgets, cost studies, and prepare bids on maintenance plans and repair work.
• Provide direction to subordinates on technical requirements and description of work that needs to be accomplished.
• Establish guidelines and performance expectations for staff.
• Advise Chief Engineer on status of the major utility systems, associated equipment, and the physical plans to assure compliance with regulations, operating standards, and the ability to meet the clinical needs of the Medical Center.
• Coordinate with customers at all levels on maintenance service requirements and projects.
• Prepare, oversee, and evaluate contracts and supporting documentation.
• Develop and oversee various policies, standard operating procedures, and work plans.
• Provide budgeting and financial management for Engineering Service, including budget formulation, justification, and execution; financial management; and financial reporting.
• Provide expert analysis and advice on complex program issues and in the administration of projects and methods for construction of facilities, structure, or landscapes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist/PD804500
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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)
• Valid driver's license required
• Pre-employment physical may be required

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, 03/30/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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.

Individual Occupational Requirements:

• Managing a maintenance program for office or apartment building complexes, hospitals, recreation facilities, military, or other special-purpose installations, including planning maintenance activities, and developing preventive maintenance programs;
• Conducting surveillance activities over construction and maintenance operations performed by a variety of private contractors, including reviewing project plans and specifications for workability, informing contractors of construction and reporting requirements, and supervising operations for conformance with project plans;
• Performing maintenance or construction work, including estimating material and labor costs for a variety of construction or maintenance projects (such as construction or maintenance of brick, frame, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and other type structures ranging from one- to two-story buildings to larger structures), directing actual work operations, and maintaining appropriate contacts with the organization funding the project.

You must qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes what is stated above as well as: developing short- and long-term needs for an organization; analyzing the operational needs of a facility to best serve the organization; developing plans and/or specifications for various maintenance and repair projects; maintaining facility buildings, structures, grounds, etc.; preparing various documents for facility modifications (such as initial scopes, descriptions, and justifications); and conducting technical analysis to identify, analyze, and recommend solutions to functional problems.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Building and Construction
• Leadership
• Organizational Awareness
• Self-Management

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: The work is a combination of sedentary and requiring physical effort and exertion such as e.g., walking, standing, carrying light items such as manuals or books, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle. Long periods of standing, bending, and stooping is also required to observe and study work operations in project construction areas/sites, confined spaces, use of scaffolding multi-stories tall, mechanical equipment rooms, and other spaces that are noisy, dirty, and close quarters, and lifting of light to moderate heavy items weighing less than 50 pounds. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Work Environment: The work area is generally adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work environment also involves moderate risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. There are regular and recurring visits (at least 25% of duty time) to the work sites, mechanical equipment rooms, confined spaces, use of scaffolding, and other spaces that are noisy, dusty, where strong odors exist, dirty and close quarters which may involve moderate risks or discomforts. Worksites are often outside or on rooftops and requires work in inclement weather. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hat, safety toe boots, gloves, hearing protection, and eye protection is required in many of these spaces and required to be work to ensure safety on a daily basis in construction zones. There will be regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas, mechanical equipment rooms, boiler plants and steam tunnels, outdoor conditions involving exposure to cold/hot weather, rain, and wind.

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/.

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.