Interior Designer

Summary This position falls under the Architecture and Interior Design Service at the VA Loma Linda Health Care System (VALLHCS). The primary purpose of the Interior Designer is to oversee and assist with construction projects, moves, space planning, master planning, and interior design standards at all VALLHCS locations. Successful performance in this position requires a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional interior design and space planning. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Performs technical, administrative or professional work involving managing, administering, operating or supporting services and programs related to the operation and safety of Federal facilities Designs building interior design environments to promote employee productivity, health and welfare, and/or health and welfare of the public Oversees multiple programs to include Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard (ABAAS) compliance, finish replacement plans, Interior standards and facility artwork acquisition Prepares the necessary visual aids, such as architectural drawings, renderings, color boards, and physical models for presentation of projects to appropriate officials Works with Architects and Engineering firms on projects, investigates new technology with vendors and national experts, provides feedback to Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) on regional and national standard requirements and works with contractors of landlords of leased space during tenant improvement projects Prepares preliminary space plans for proposed projects, including detailed specifications, to evaluate alternatives Independently designs and develops written specifications for fabrication and installation of all materials 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 unoccupied space, reconfiguration of existing space and new construction projects Reviews construction drawings, including lighting plans, reflected ceiling plans, finish schedule, door schedule, hardware schedule, data and electrical location on floor plans, furniture specifications and floor plans, architectural details and millwork drawings, and coordinates fabric and finishes for all spaces Prepares correspondence, technical reports, estimates, fact sheets, status reports and schedules as required to complete project assignments Prepares sketches or changes drawings and specifications solving the problem and incorporates these change documents in to the contract performance documents Reviews and evaluates shop drawings, samples and material certifications submitted by contractor for contract and performance requirements, recommending approval, rejection or receipt Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process as it at managements discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD11065A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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 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 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/12/2024. 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-9 level. 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: This position has INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT which is a basic requirement that must be met to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that cannot be waived. To meet the basic requirement for the Interior Designer Occupational series, applicants must demonstrate one of the following: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- interior design or other 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, OR, Specialized 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. Grade Determinations: GS-11, Interior Designer: In addition to the INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT above, candidates must meet the following grade requirements. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to the following: Performs technical, administrative or professional work involving managing, administering, operating or supporting services and programs related to the operation and safety of Federal facilities Designs building interior design environments to promote employee productivity, health and welfare, and/or health and welfare of the public Prepares the necessary visual aids, such as architectural drawings, renderings, color boards, and physical models for presentation of projects to appropriate officials Prepares preliminary space plans for proposed projects, including detailed specifications, to evaluate alternatives Independently designs and develops written specifications for fabrication and installation of all materials OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Major study must be interior design or other 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. OR, Combination: You must have a combination of graduate level education (beyond the second year) in a related field and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Interior Designer position, which may be used to meet the experience requirements for the GS-11 grade level. [(To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. [NOTE: coursework must have equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities described in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of the announcement)]. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Contracting/Procurement Design Oral Communication Structural Engineering 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: Administrative work can be done while seated, as at a drawing board or computer keyboard. Frequent walking, standing, bending and stooping is required during field surveys and installation of project work, can be up to 8 hours per day. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. 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. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.