Interior Designer

Summary This position is responsible for managing an integrated Interior Design Program through the conceptualization, planning, development, supervision, and implementation of work pertaining to Interior Design. The primary objectives are directed towards providing a therapeutic setting for patients by enhancing the psychological effect of a nurturing and healing healthcare environment. In addition, this design approach will promote employee health, productivity, and welfare of the general public. Learn more about this agency Duties Please Note: This announcement has been extended until April 3, 2026. Applicants who have already applied do not need to reapply, but may update their application materials during this time. ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** NOTE: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the GS-09 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Key responsibilities include: Space Planning: Analyzing available space to create efficient layouts that support medical services and patient traffic. Patient-Centered Design: Creating environments that promote healing and comfort, using color schemes, lighting, and furniture to reduce stress and anxiety. Safety and Infection Control: Ensuring compliance with building codes and safety regulations to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Materials and Furnishings Selection: Choosing materials that are easy to clean, sanitize, and meet safety standards. Ergonomics and Accessibility: Designing spaces that are accessible to all ergonomics to prevent strain and discomfort for patients and staff. *Healthcare interior designers play a crucial role in shaping environments that enhance patient experience, boost staff productivity, and support clinical excellence. They are essential in creating spaces that balance functionality, flexibility, and human experience, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. Additional duties include, but not limited to, the following: Serves as a Consultant Advisor, Specifier, and Designer of all spaces involved in new construction and renovation drawings provided by Architects/Engineers Develops and directs planning and scheduling of short and long range interior improvement projects Investigates, researches, selects, and specifies furniture, furnishings, and accessories with input from users Prepares technical drawings and specifications Prepares floor plans, finish plans, furniture plans, elevations, finish schedules, presentation boards, and cost estimates Reviews architect submittals for compliance with regulations and facility design criteria Monitors, inspects, and certifies that work completed by contractors meets contract specifications Reviews shop drawings, contract drawings, and manufacturer's equipment drawing making necessary changes to insure proper fit and operation Researches acoustical performance, appropriate ergonomics, adequate lighting, and color coordination Originates and enters orders for furniture, signage, window coverings, privacy curtains, floor coverings, art work, ambient lighting, accessories, and interior landscaping Advises and recommends improvements for all patient care environments Prepares project budgets and yearly furniture and finishes budgets Prepares budgetary figures for construction projects for supplemental agreements Coordinates the activation process of newly completed buildings and renovations Performs all other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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 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) Physical Requirements & Work Environment:Work can normally be done while seated, as at a computer keyboard. Frequent waling is required during field surveys and installation of project work. Some lifting is required. The work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. However, normal safety precautions are required particularly while at construction areas. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position at the GS-9 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Interior Designer, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is experience that required the performance of work concerned with the design and alteration of interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs such as: (1) Identifying, researching, and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment; (2) 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; (3) 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; (4) Coordinating and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering disciplines within the interior context; (5) 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. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in 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 passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Interior Designer position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. If attempting to qualify based on passage of the NCIDQ exam, you must also submit a copy of your certification with your application. Certification cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: An equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet the total requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Interior Designer position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. To meet the minimum qualifications for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Interior Designer, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is experience that required the performance of work concerned with the design and alteration of interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs such as: (1) Identifying, researching, and creatively solving problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment; (2) 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; (3) 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; (4) Coordinating and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering disciplines within the interior context; (5) 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. At this level applicants should possess sufficient knowledge and expertise of interior designing to provide consultation/advisory services to project managers and leaders. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in 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 passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Interior Designer position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. If attempting to qualify based on passage of the NCIDQ exam, you must also submit a copy of your certification with your application. Certification cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: An equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet the total requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Interior Designer position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Preferred Experience: Healthcare interior designers are responsible for creating spaces that are not only functional but also conducive to healing and comfort. They work closely with healthcare professionals to ensure that the design meets the specific needs of medical departments, patient rooms, waiting areas, and staff workplaces. Driver's License Preferred: It is preferred that applicant's possess a valid, unrestricted state driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: ArchitectureContracting/ProcurementInterpersonal Skills 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 IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional information Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. 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. Expand Hide  additional information 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 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. Review our benefits 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.