Interior Designer

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

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.

Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Planning and implementing interior design projects for new construction renovations and satellite facilities from concept through installation
• Developing interior design plans finish schedules furniture layouts space plans cost estimates and design specifications
• Managing the facility furniture program including procurement installation and five-year replacement planning
• Serving as Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for furniture furnishings finishes signage and other interior design-related procurements and installations
• Preparing procurement packages technical specifications and acquisition documentation in accordance with FAR VAAR and VA requirements
• Developing and managing five-year interior design furniture replacement and interior improvement plans to support facility priorities
• Managing interior design budgets and preparing funding requests for renovation and construction projects
• Developing and maintaining facility signage and wayfinding programs in compliance with VA ADA and Joint Commission requirements
• Monitoring procurement schedules installations and project activations to support construction and occupancy timelines
• Reviewing design submittals and ensuring compliance with VA standards healthcare design criteria and applicable building codes
• Conducting field inspections reviewing contractor work and resolving interior design issues during project execution
• Coordinating furniture moves phased construction utility shutdowns and project activations with multidisciplinary teams
• Coordinating paint flooring ceiling lighting and finish selections to support facility design objectives and maintenance requirements
• Participating on facility committees related to space planning patient experience accessibility ergonomics and safety
• Providing oversight of contractor and vendor performance for interior design-related projects

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 (<50Ibs.) light furniture moving/rearranging carrying heavy and bulky catalogs/artwork/samples etc. and travel/driving as needed to showrooms furniture dealers and satellite facilities. Dexterity is required related to duties performed in drafting sketching and writing.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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) - See Required Documents below for details.

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 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a Interior Designer at GS-09 grade in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which all applicants must meet one of the following.

• Specialized Experience (GS-09): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e. GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying 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: 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. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry such as beginning and ending dates of employment duties performed and/or total hours worked per week.) OR
• Education (GS-09): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have masters or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D. if related. Major study must be 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 passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. NOTE: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript your application may not be reviewed.) OR
• Combination (GS-09): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e. 18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-09. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript your application may not be reviewed.)

Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as an Interior Designer at GS-11 grade in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which all applicants must meet one of the following.

• Specialized Experience (GS-11): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e. GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying 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: 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. At this level applicants must possess sufficient knowledge and expertise of interior design to provide consultation/advisory services to project managers and leaders. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry such as beginning and ending dates of employment duties performed and/or total hours worked per week.) OR
• Education (GS-11): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M. if related. Major study must be 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 passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. NOTE: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript your application may not be reviewed.) OR
• Combination (GS-11): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e. 36 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript your application may not be reviewed.)

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at

Required Experience:

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