Interior Designer
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Lexington, KY, United States
Summary
Interior Designer is responsible for the planning and implementation of a complete interior design program for the Engineering Service - VAMC Lexington - Kentucky. The scope of the existing areas under the care and responsibility of the incumbent is over 1.465 million gross square feet on 150 acres at two divisions – Leestown and Cooper Divisions – and (4) Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs). The Interior Designer will be a direct report to the Office of the Chief – Engineering Service.
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 03/13/2026.
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‑11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑09. 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.
Occupational Requirements: The Interior Design Series has Individual Occupational Requirements that must be met. Failure to document these Individual Occupational Requirements on your resume will result in non‑referral to the hiring manager. You must have one of the following:
Education – Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study in interior design or a 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.
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; coordinating and integrating 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 developing a graduate level education or equivalent terminal degree – or an LL.B. or J.D. – to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.
If you choose education for qualification, you must have successfully completed a master’s or equivalent graduate degree (or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education) or an LL.B. or J.D. in a related field. Transcripts must be submitted with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You may also combine education and experience to qualify; a copy of your transcript is required if this combination is used.
Physical Requirements: The work is partially sedentary. Some physical effort may be required when moving furniture or pulling modular product for installation. The work involves regular walking, bending, climbing and occasionally crawling in or around the facility and construction sites. Work hours can vary from the normal schedule depending upon project performance or building management system operation, which may entail night, weekend, and/or extended daily work hours.
Duties
Primary duties: Incumbent is a consultant, advisor, planner, and designer of all spaces in new and/or renovated construction programs, beginning with the earliest drawings provided by architects, engineers, and/or contracted consultants.
Influences design of new construction from conception through activation by in-depth knowledge of user requirements and availability of furnishings to satisfy these needs.
Develops and maintains a comprehensive resource library of interior design literature, including GSA Federal Supply Schedules, manufacturer catalogs, and product samples of carpet, wall coverings, paint, floor and wall tile, and fabric.
Maintains good working relationships with numerous commercial vendors to assure that functional and modern design concepts are available for application or consideration at this facility.
Responds to rapid changes in the field of design by maintaining an on‑going relationship with all facets of the industry.
Prepares equipment and furniture listings for all assigned major renovation and new construction projects and for facility management to be submitted by the Medical Center to Central Office.
Evaluates existing furniture and equipment and makes appropriate determinations of items needed for these projects.
Reviews all assigned renovation and construction projects and provides design consultation.
Administers service contracts for interior design projects such as installation of artwork, carpet, drapery, custom millwork, and systems furniture.
Responsible for design, cost estimates, inspection, and certification that the final product meets contract specifications.
Improves patient care environments across a range of settings: primary, urgent, medical, sub‑acute, surgery, hospice, CWT, psych, GEM, dental, and transitional.
Improves employee work environments, including offices, labs, kitchens, shops, industrial, laundry, warehouse, garages, etc.
Develops and maintains a complete interior system for the Medical Center, determining appropriate signage locations, prioritizing signage requests, coordinating all phases of signage demands, and ensuring appropriate signage for renovations and/or relocations.
Serves as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), reviewing submittals for compliance with VA regulations, federal guidelines, and Medical Center criteria.
Analyzes and develops cost estimates to cover furnishings and construction required for projects.
Manages budgeting for projects, utilizing yearly recurring budget funds and non‑recurring project funds, verifying receipt of orders, coordinating, and supervising installation.
Prepares budgetary figures for major and minor construction projects for supplemental and future year funding by VACO.
Coordinates facilities paint schedules and color selections with Engineering Service for compliance with overall Medical Center design scheme.
Prepares preliminary space plans for proposed projects, including detailed specifications, to evaluate alternatives.
Considers present and future renovation projects, condition of existing paint, color selections, type of paint finish, and availability of labor resources.
Ensures compliance with Department of Veterans Affairs requirements, JC standards, regulations regarding provisions for handicapped persons, and Privacy Act requirements.
Develops and directs planning and scheduling of short and long‑range interior improvement projects for the Medical Center using facilities construction and backfill plans and other programs that determine future need.
Prepares floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, furnishings, accessory selections, finished schedules, and presentation boards.
Maintains interior design files, including drawings, specifications, project information, government contracts, and regulations pertaining to interior design.
Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Full‑time – Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Telework: Position may be authorized for ad‑hoc telework; eligibility discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD011640.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 03/13/2026.
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‑11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑09. 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.
Occupational Requirements: The Interior Design Series has Individual Occupational Requirements that must be met. Failure to document these Individual Occupational Requirements on your resume will result in non‑referral to the hiring manager. You must have one of the following:
Education – Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study in interior design or a 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.
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; coordinating and integrating 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 developing a graduate level education or equivalent terminal degree – or an LL.B. or J.D. – to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.
If you choose education for qualification, you must have successfully completed a master’s or equivalent graduate degree (or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education) or an LL.B. or J.D. in a related field. Transcripts must be submitted with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You may also combine education and experience to qualify; a copy of your transcript is required if this combination is used.
Physical Requirements: The work is partially sedentary. Some physical effort may be required when moving furniture or pulling modular product for installation. The work involves regular walking, bending, climbing and occasionally crawling in or around the facility and construction sites. Work hours can vary from the normal schedule depending upon project performance or building management system operation, which may entail night, weekend, and/or extended daily work hours.
Duties
Primary duties: Incumbent is a consultant, advisor, planner, and designer of all spaces in new and/or renovated construction programs, beginning with the earliest drawings provided by architects, engineers, and/or contracted consultants.
Influences design of new construction from conception through activation by in-depth knowledge of user requirements and availability of furnishings to satisfy these needs.
Develops and maintains a comprehensive resource library of interior design literature, including GSA Federal Supply Schedules, manufacturer catalogs, and product samples of carpet, wall coverings, paint, floor and wall tile, and fabric.
Maintains good working relationships with numerous commercial vendors to assure that functional and modern design concepts are available for application or consideration at this facility.
Responds to rapid changes in the field of design by maintaining an on‑going relationship with all facets of the industry.
Prepares equipment and furniture listings for all assigned major renovation and new construction projects and for facility management to be submitted by the Medical Center to Central Office.
Evaluates existing furniture and equipment and makes appropriate determinations of items needed for these projects.
Reviews all assigned renovation and construction projects and provides design consultation.
Administers service contracts for interior design projects such as installation of artwork, carpet, drapery, custom millwork, and systems furniture.
Responsible for design, cost estimates, inspection, and certification that the final product meets contract specifications.
Improves patient care environments across a range of settings: primary, urgent, medical, sub‑acute, surgery, hospice, CWT, psych, GEM, dental, and transitional.
Improves employee work environments, including offices, labs, kitchens, shops, industrial, laundry, warehouse, garages, etc.
Develops and maintains a complete interior system for the Medical Center, determining appropriate signage locations, prioritizing signage requests, coordinating all phases of signage demands, and ensuring appropriate signage for renovations and/or relocations.
Serves as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), reviewing submittals for compliance with VA regulations, federal guidelines, and Medical Center criteria.
Analyzes and develops cost estimates to cover furnishings and construction required for projects.
Manages budgeting for projects, utilizing yearly recurring budget funds and non‑recurring project funds, verifying receipt of orders, coordinating, and supervising installation.
Prepares budgetary figures for major and minor construction projects for supplemental and future year funding by VACO.
Coordinates facilities paint schedules and color selections with Engineering Service for compliance with overall Medical Center design scheme.
Prepares preliminary space plans for proposed projects, including detailed specifications, to evaluate alternatives.
Considers present and future renovation projects, condition of existing paint, color selections, type of paint finish, and availability of labor resources.
Ensures compliance with Department of Veterans Affairs requirements, JC standards, regulations regarding provisions for handicapped persons, and Privacy Act requirements.
Develops and directs planning and scheduling of short and long‑range interior improvement projects for the Medical Center using facilities construction and backfill plans and other programs that determine future need.
Prepares floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, furnishings, accessory selections, finished schedules, and presentation boards.
Maintains interior design files, including drawings, specifications, project information, government contracts, and regulations pertaining to interior design.
Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Full‑time – Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Telework: Position may be authorized for ad‑hoc telework; eligibility discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD011640.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
#J-18808-Ljbffr