SummaryThis position is located at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System (VASTLHCS). VASTLHCS is a two Division (John Cochran and Jefferson Barracks) Joint Commission accredited, Level 1-B Healthcare System serving eastern Missouri and western Illinois. The employee serves as an Interior Designer for Facilities Engineering Service (FES), responsible for medical center interior design projects at all locations. This includes over 1.6 million square feet of VA owned facilities/leased sites.
DutiesHelp
Major duties include, but are not limited to:- Designing building interior design environments to promote employee productivity, health and welfare, and health and welfare of the public.
- Creating designs and furnishing buildings and medical facilities.
- Preparing the necessary virtual aids, such as architectural drawings, renderings, color boards, and physical models for presentation of projects to appropriate officials.
- Preparing floor plans, furnishings and accessory selections.
- Evaluating the interior design program to assure requirements and standards of the agency are followed.
- Advising management officials on program defects and required actions in order to comply.
- Procuring fabrication and placement of all interior and exterior signs.
- Coordinating all phases of projects with appropriate officials.
- Preparing preliminary space plans for proposed projects, including detailed specifications, to evaluate alternatives.
- Utilizing Computer Aided Design(CAD) and drafting software to maintain accurate records of projects in all stages.
- Engaging in activities related to the management and administration of the facility.
- Other assigned duties as required.
Promotion Potential: The full performance level for this position is GS-11. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Work Schedule: Full Time, Permanent. Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Interior Designer
/PD09335A and PD08861A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Physical Requirements: Work will require long period of sitting, standing, or walking. Construction site visits may include walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces. The work involves carrying heavy catalogs, books of samples, color boards, etc. Some bending, stooping and lifting is involved.
RequirementsHelp
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)
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 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/19/2026.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Interior Design Series, 1008Individual Occupational RequirementsEducationUndergraduate 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.
ORExperience
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.
ANDGrade Determinations:GS-9 Level: - Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 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. 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. OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 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 passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Applicants must have an combination of specialized experience and higher level graduate education beyond the first year and specialized experience.
GS-11 Level: - Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-9) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Consultant and advisor for all spaces in new and renovated construction projects. Designer employs in-depth knowledge of user requirements, finishes, fixtures and equipment required to satisfy client needs. Acts as the consultant and point-of-contact to guide the design of furnishings in new construction projects. Assists in space plans for in-house projects; reviews all documents for renovation and construction projects; and maintains interior design files which include Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings, specifications, project information, government contracts and regulations pertaining to interior design projects. This includes the coordination of paints, wall coverings, floor, ceiling materials, lighting, furniture, furnishings and accessories, artwork, sign and graphics, draperies and window treatments, cubical curtains, bedspreads and blankets. Complies with existing standard finishes and furnishings to assist in ease of maintenance. Performing interior design services, including 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; managing projects, developing cost estimates, reviewing construction documents, and participating in on-site construction visits. OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a PhD. 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 passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. OR,
- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in one or LL.M. if related.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Communications
- Design
- Manages Resources
- Problem Solving
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; religions; 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.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.
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/.
EducationA 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional informationReceiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
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.
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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.
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