Healthcare Engineer - Energy Manager

Summary

The incumbent functions as Energy Manager for at least one Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) comprised of one or more VA owned VA Medical Centers, Healthcare Centers, Outpatient Clinics and smaller miscellaneous facilities as well as leased spaces including VA Clinics (formerly Community Based Outpatient Clinics [CBOCs]), warehouses and administrative offices operated by the VAHCS.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/04/2024 to 09/30/2024

• Salary

$116,846 - $151,904 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Dayton, OH

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

25% or less

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0801 General Engineering

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSR-12432923-24-TW

• Control number

793874500

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation. Applications submitted before 5/14/2024 will be rated for referral. Further ratings will occur every 2 weeks thereafter until position is filled. Once a selection has been made, no further candidates will be rated/referred unless further vacancies occur. This announcement may be cancelled at any time.

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Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Works closely with the VISN Energy Manager and VISN Capital Assets Manager/Deputy Capital Assets Manager providing technical support for VISN and National initiatives or programs.

• Provides technical and program support for the energy conservation programs at local National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Veteran Benefit Administration (VBA), Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling), and Joint Department of Defense (DOD)/VA sites.

• Conducts condition assessments for HVAC, lighting, electrical distribution, building envelope, steam and chilled water generation systems, domestic hot water, and other energy and water utilities within the VISN using industry standard energy analysis tools to identify usage and minimize energy consumption.

• Plans, initiates and executes commissioning, recommissioning and retro-commissioning projects. Incumbent provides associated audit reports directly to VAHCS Leadership, VISN Energy Manager, VISN CAM or VHA Energy Program Director and/or other Senior-Level VACO staff.

• Creates pilot programs (new technology and procedures); developing local standards to minimize energy and water waste, managing VAHCS commodity acquisition (electricity, natural gas, etc.) and evaluating/managing VAHCS Utility Energy Saving Contracts (UESCs).

• Manages and supports the VISNs' energy savings performance contracts (ESPC) and utility energy service contract (UESC) in collaboration with the National Energy Business Center (NEBC).

• Responsible to ensure energy aspects of sustainability in facility construction projects, its operation and maintenance.

• Leads the development, manages and supports the Medical Center's and VISN's Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC) or Utility Energy Services Contracts (UESC).

• Plans, directs, and coordinates activities of designated projects with energy savings companies to ensure that goals or objectives of the project are accomplished within prescribed time frames, contract requirements and funding parameters.

• Implements energy conservation initiatives and prepares project submission documents for cost effective energy conservation retrofit projects. They prepare and monitor utility budgets, advising management of potential budget shortfalls and other factors that may influence the energy budget.

• Works with the VAHCS's Operations and Maintenance Section to analyze and improve utility system energy performance, initiate, and provide support for the development of operational procedures and controls.

• Oversees, provides guidance, and assists VISN activities of designated projects with energy savings companies to ensure goals or objectives of the project are accomplished within prescribed time frames and funding parameters.

• Sets goals of cost reduction, energy reduction and productivity improvement to align with Federal and VA-wide initiatives and goals.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday

• Friday

Telework: Ad-Hoc Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Healthcare Engineer

• Energy Manager/PD91327S

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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.

• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2024.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include, but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time;

OR

Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam with a bachelor's degree. Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score;

OR

Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico.

• English Language Proficiency: Energy Manager candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. §7403 (f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: To be eligible for consideration at the GS-13 grade level, candidates must possess at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge in various energy systems, including building envelopes, HVAC. controls, steam distribution and lighting and their retrofit potential for energy conservation and/or energy recovery in a medical center environment.

• Knowledgeable in the evaluation of alternative fuels and fuel consumption for vehicles.

• Knowledge and authority in the design, construction, maintenance, and inspection of the installation of all utility systems. Utility systems include electrical power distribution, electronic, plumbing, water distribution, steam generation and distribution, vacuum, medical gas, fire alarm, fire sprinklers, pneumatic and other electrical and mechanical systems.

• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, and other engineering/architectural principles, practices, and their applications in the healthcare environment.

• Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials, and equipment to determine compliance with regulations and standards.

• Knowledgeable in the evaluation of utility rate structures, computation of energy consumption and energy savings associated with multiple utility systems, construction cost estimating and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for construction/service contracts.

• Skill to researching and analyzing information, conditions, human factors, and projections to make sound engineering and business recommendations and decisions to proactively identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations, and procedures.

• Ability to use energy and project management software, such as construction estimating, scheduling, life cycle cost analysis and work processing.

• Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets.

• Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms.

References: VA Handbook 5005/150, Part II, Appendix G72.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, boiler rooms, mechanical rooms and facility maintenance shop areas. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in accessing boiler plants, chiller plants, cooling towers, roofs, Mechanical Rooms, basements, pipe chases and sub-basement crawl spaces. The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required, e.g., walking, standing, climbing ladders, stooping, kneeling, and carrying light items such as manuals, drawing rolls, briefcases, test and balancing equipment, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A 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 information

Receiving Service Credit or 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.