Lead Interior Designer

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serves as a Team Lead advisor and consultant on a diverse spectrum of interior design and major/super project functions within the VA St. Louis Healthcare System (VASTLHCS).
• Acts as a coach and facilitates the selection and application of problem-solving techniques or work methods. Assists team in identifying solutions setting priorities and organizing to accomplish the work.
• Maintains administrative reference material policies procedures and written instructions from the supervisor maintains current knowledge of each to answer questions from project members.
• Develops a schedule of short- and long-range interior improvement projects for the facility through the 5-year interior design plan and other programs to identify future project needs.
• Acts as technical representative for design and finish specification matters and manages the facility furniture program.
• Provides technical expertise to coworkers and contractors - routinely coordinating with engineers architects and other designers to ensure compliance with VA regulations and facility design criteria.
• Acts as or works with Contracting Officers Representative on assigned projects (Majors/Super Minors NRM CSI and Leased) furnishings window treatments patient cubicle curtains wall coverings floor coverings wall art lighting ceiling treatments casework and other interior design-related procurement packages.
• Provides plans consultation advice specifications and designs for spaces involved in new construction and/or renovation; reviews Architect/Engineer submittals for compliance with VA regulations and facility design criteria.
• Works with direct supervisor to prepare multi-million dollar interior design budgetary requirements for major/super and minor construction projects.
• Coordinates the installation of new signage and ensures the efficacy of signage/directional graphics in areas where new and existing intersect.
• Participates in planning and coordinating moves with move team utility shutdowns phases and other requirements for construction projects. Advises and implements plan on adequacy and adaptability of a cohesive space including furniture layout general size fit and code compliance.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday from 7:00am - 3:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Lead Interior Designer/PD101230
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• 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 showroom 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)

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 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.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 08/17/2026.

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 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 Requirement:
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.

GS-12 Grade requirement:

• 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Serves as a Team Lead advisor and consultant on a diverse spectrum of interior design; Develops a schedule of short- and long-range interior improvement projects for the facility through the 5-year interior design plan and other programs to identify future project need; Provides technical expertise to coworkers and contractors - routinely coordinating with engineers architects and other designers to ensure compliance; Provides plans consultation advice specifications and designs for spaces involved in new construction and/or renovation; reviews Architect/Engineer submittals for compliance; Works with direct supervisor to prepare multi-million dollar interior design budgetary requirements for major/super and minor construction projects.

Preferred Experience: Have several years of VA healthcare design experience or equivalent large scale project work with a strong command of VA standards codes and technical information library requirements. Should be skilled in full cycle design development from concept through activation and experienced in coordinating complex multidisciplinary projects managing FF&E and finish standards and ensuring compliance with VA regulatory safety and accreditation criteria.


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

Required Experience:

IC