Interior Designer
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, San Diego, CA, United States
Summary
This position is located in the Engineering Service at the San Diego VA Healthcare System main campus. The employee is responsible for implementation of the Interior Design Program in concert with other interior designers. The VA San Diego Healthcare System covers approximately 1 million square feet of space at the main hospital campus and associated leased community‑based outpatient clinics and administrative spaces.
Qualifications To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 04/15/2026. 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. 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.
Specialized Experience:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to – 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. 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.
Education:
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Major study must be interior design or another 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.
Combination:
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the second year in a related field and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Interior Designer position – which may be used to meet the experience requirements for the GS‑11 grade level. If you compute by dividing your total months of qualifying experience by 12, then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18, add the two percentages, the total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. [NOTE: coursework must have equipped you with the knowledge – skills and abilities described in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section of the announcement]. 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/ .
Duties
As an Interior Designer – the employee is assigned multiple, complex, and frequently urgent design projects undertaken by the Projects Section
The employee works as a technical expert with technical independence under the general supervision of the Supervisor
Full technical responsibility is mandated in achieving an aesthetically pleasing and therapeutic environment of care for patients, visitors, and staff in the healthcare system
Establishes and periodically updates a resource library of furnishings – office furniture – draperies – wall coverings – floor coverings – finishes – colors – fabrics – etc. from vendors and suppliers
Sources materials compliant with or supportive of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations or other ergonomic related issues
Prepares and oversees the preparation of vendor sketches, perspectives, or detailed plans to scale showing color schemes, furniture, furnishings, and wall decor for all projects requiring interior design services
Selects all associated items including furniture, furnishings, wall decor, floor and wall finishes and signage
Ensures project related costs are maintained within budget
Monitors, modifies and maintains an overall directional graphics and standardized signage system for the healthcare system – utilizing consultants, contractors, and personal expertise to meet the requirements of the Directional Graphics Manual for VA Medical Centers
Provides scope and review to signage consultants as graphics relate to a hospital environment
Inspects the physical installation of products in construction and renovation projects related to interior design to ensure contractual compliance
Develops scopes, produces documentation, drawings, specifications, criteria, and cost estimates necessary to procure services or products necessary to activate program moves into new or renovated space
Prepares the interior design budget request individually or in cooperation with other interior designers
Prepares projects and cost estimate documents to be included in the five‑year facility plan and for submissions to the Network and VACO for funding
Serves as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and administers contracted projects to ensure contractor compliance with drawings, specifications, regulations, and policy
Conducts site visits during construction, prepares pre‑ and post‑occupancy evaluations of site
Interacts daily with all levels of management in developing detailed project requirements for a variety of services – ranging from general administrative to specialized clinical needs
Routinely coordinates activities with services such as Environmental Management Service, Logistics, and Office of Information and Technology and schedules both program moves and vendor services to minimize disruption to critical activities of the healthcare system
Required to perform furniture layout and design related to both interior design service requests – for interior design project support – and for activation to make spaces usable to clients
Uses the engineering work order system to manage requests from numerous services – ensures timely responses and documents completed actions
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday – 7:00 am‑3:30 pm (this is not a virtual position)
Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD11244A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Approved Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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Qualifications To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 04/15/2026. 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. 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.
Specialized Experience:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to – 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. 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.
Education:
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Major study must be interior design or another 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.
Combination:
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the second year in a related field and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Interior Designer position – which may be used to meet the experience requirements for the GS‑11 grade level. If you compute by dividing your total months of qualifying experience by 12, then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18, add the two percentages, the total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. [NOTE: coursework must have equipped you with the knowledge – skills and abilities described in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section of the announcement]. 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/ .
Duties
As an Interior Designer – the employee is assigned multiple, complex, and frequently urgent design projects undertaken by the Projects Section
The employee works as a technical expert with technical independence under the general supervision of the Supervisor
Full technical responsibility is mandated in achieving an aesthetically pleasing and therapeutic environment of care for patients, visitors, and staff in the healthcare system
Establishes and periodically updates a resource library of furnishings – office furniture – draperies – wall coverings – floor coverings – finishes – colors – fabrics – etc. from vendors and suppliers
Sources materials compliant with or supportive of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations or other ergonomic related issues
Prepares and oversees the preparation of vendor sketches, perspectives, or detailed plans to scale showing color schemes, furniture, furnishings, and wall decor for all projects requiring interior design services
Selects all associated items including furniture, furnishings, wall decor, floor and wall finishes and signage
Ensures project related costs are maintained within budget
Monitors, modifies and maintains an overall directional graphics and standardized signage system for the healthcare system – utilizing consultants, contractors, and personal expertise to meet the requirements of the Directional Graphics Manual for VA Medical Centers
Provides scope and review to signage consultants as graphics relate to a hospital environment
Inspects the physical installation of products in construction and renovation projects related to interior design to ensure contractual compliance
Develops scopes, produces documentation, drawings, specifications, criteria, and cost estimates necessary to procure services or products necessary to activate program moves into new or renovated space
Prepares the interior design budget request individually or in cooperation with other interior designers
Prepares projects and cost estimate documents to be included in the five‑year facility plan and for submissions to the Network and VACO for funding
Serves as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and administers contracted projects to ensure contractor compliance with drawings, specifications, regulations, and policy
Conducts site visits during construction, prepares pre‑ and post‑occupancy evaluations of site
Interacts daily with all levels of management in developing detailed project requirements for a variety of services – ranging from general administrative to specialized clinical needs
Routinely coordinates activities with services such as Environmental Management Service, Logistics, and Office of Information and Technology and schedules both program moves and vendor services to minimize disruption to critical activities of the healthcare system
Required to perform furniture layout and design related to both interior design service requests – for interior design project support – and for activation to make spaces usable to clients
Uses the engineering work order system to manage requests from numerous services – ensures timely responses and documents completed actions
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday – 7:00 am‑3:30 pm (this is not a virtual position)
Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer/PD11244A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Approved Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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