Supervisory Interior Designer

Summary

This Supervisory Interior Designer position is organizationally located in the Facilities Management Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System (Brockton campus).

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Duties

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• Plan work to be accomplished by subordinate employees and establish priorities and schedules for completion.
• Assign work to subordinate employees based on priorities, assignment requirements, and employee capabilities.
• Evaluate employee work performance against established performance standards.
• Identify employee development and training needs and provide or arrange appropriate training.
• Develop interior design plans and specifications for renovation and new construction projects.
• Prepare scaled floor plans, space layouts, finish plans, working drawings, and detailed drawings for interior design projects.
• Select furnishings, materials, colors, and finishes appropriate for healthcare environments and end-user requirements.
• Review interior design plans and specifications for compliance with applicable building codes, safety requirements, and facility design criteria.
• Coordinate interior design projects from concept through installation to meet project requirements and schedules.
• Develop project schedules and monitor interior design projects through completion.
• Coordinate design activities with engineers, architects, contractors, vendors, and other project stakeholders.
• Monitor project costs, schedules, and installation activities to support timely completion of interior design projects.
• Develop short- and long-range interior improvement plans to identify existing and future project needs.
• Prioritize interior design and furniture requirements based on organizational needs and available resources.
• Develop cost estimates and budget requirements for interior design projects and program needs.
• Evaluate interior design program activities to identify opportunities for improving program effectiveness and service delivery.
• Present interior design concepts and recommendations to staff and organizational leadership.
• Communicate design requirements to engineers, architects, contractors, vendors, and other project stakeholders.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to customers and stakeholders regarding interior design requirements and solutions.
• Respond to customer requests and concerns related to interior design services and furniture requirements.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework which occurs on an occasional, non-routine basis and is utilized to complete short-term special assignments or to accommodate special circumstances even though the telework arrangement may occur continuously for a limited and specific period of time. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Interior Designer/PD523-0038120

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Financial Disclosure: Not Required

Notifications:

• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

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 identification 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)
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. This position requires the application, assessment, and questionnaire to be fully completed. The assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

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, 08/31/2026.

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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Interior Design Series, 1008

Individual Occupational Requirements

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 design, interior architecture, or interior environmental design; or passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination.

or

Experience

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): 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.

and

Minimum Qualifications GS-12: Have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this Supervisory Interior Designer position. The Interior Designer plans and implements a comprehensive Interior Design Program which includes providing complete, from concept to installation, interior design services for the organization to include satellite facilities. The Interior Designer provides technical expertise to coworkers and contractors and routinely coordinates with engineers, architects, and other designers to ensure compliance with VA regulations and facility design criteria. The Interior Designer acts as a technical representative for design and finish specifications matters and manages the facility furniture program. The Interior Designer influences design of new construction from conception through activation by an in-depth knowledge of use requirements and availability of resources to fulfill these requirements; ensures that appropriately designed finish plans are formulated and comply with commercial building codes, safety and environmental guidelines and the agency master specification for all renovation and new construction projects. The Interior Designer plans, specifics, writes procurement packages, supervises installation and acts as the contracting officer's representative for all furniture procurements within the facility. The Interior Designer provides plans, consultation, advice, specifications, and designs for virtually all spaces involved in new construction and/or renovation; reviews Architect/Engineer submittals for compliance with agency regulations and facility design criteria. The Interior Designer acts as a technical representative for design and finish specifications matters. The Interior Designer influences design of new construction from conception through activation by an in-depth knowledge of use requirements and availability of furnishings to fulfill these requirements; ensures that appropriately designed color schemes are formulated for all renovation and new construction projects. The Interior Designer works with direct supervisor to determine priorities and utilize an annual interior design budget in recurring funds and budgeting projects that may involve millions of dollars in non-recurring funds. This includes verifying receipt of orders and coordinating installation. In addition to fixed annual budget and non- recurring funds for projects, incumbent prepares interior design budgetary requirements for major and minor construction projects, for supplemental and future funding. The position is responsible for prioritizing needs at the medical center and preparing budgets and justifications to obtain funds needed by for the Interior Design program. The Interior Designer manages an interior design file system that includes drawings, specifications, budgets, project information, government contracts, requests for interior design services, and regulations pertaining to interior design; manages a resource library of catalogs for furniture, materials, finishes, and all other design-related items that are appropriate by ensuring they contribute to infection prevention, long term maintenance and sustainability goals for a healthcare environment.

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

• Conflict Management
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Manages Resources
• Partnering
• Planning and Evaluating

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: Work can vary from seated at a desk in front of a computer to extensive walking throughout the

facility/grounds (interior and exterior) and visitation to construction sites and several off-site facilities. Work may require some lifting (

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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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.

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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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.