Job opening: Healthcare Engineer (Energy Engineer)
Salary: $56 654 - 125 801 per year
Published at: Apr 08 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The position serves as an Energy Manager for two VA Medical Centers: The VA Medical Center in Roseburg, Oregon, and the VA Southern Oregon Regional Center and Clinics, in White City, Oregon; inclusive of Medical Centers (VA) owned and leased space including Outpatient Clinics, CBOC's, or administrative space operated by the Medical Centers.
Duties
Energy Manager will work in a collaborative effort with other Energy Managers within their VISN toward accomplishing VISN wide and VHA energy goals. The incumbent works closely with the VISN Capital Asset Manager providing technical support for VISN initiatives. In addition, the incumbent provides technical and program support for the energy conservation programs at local NCA and VBA sites.
The position implements energy conservation initiatives and prepares project submission documents for cost effective energy conservation retrofit projects. He/she prepares and monitors utility budgets, advising management of potential contract budget shortfalls and other factors that may influence the energy budget. Energy manager works with A/E firms for renovation and construction projects to ensure compliance with applicable local, National and VA regulations as they relate to energy performance. He/she will be required to review local facility-level project and maintenance activities that have the potential to impact energy performance.
The position is responsible for providing healthcare engineering support to all assigned projects. The position is responsible for performing the duties of a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on professional design and construction projects, training service staff on technical issues and assisting the service staff on the completion of technical and administrative issues regarding infrastructure related operations of the medical facility.
The position works with the operations and maintenance sections to analyze trends and measures, adapts, established long-term utility system energy performance goals based upon already proven energy efficiency concepts, including but not limited to the following:
A. Monitor utility systems components looking for significant changes in consumption rates or quantities.
B. Evaluate data compiled from the computerized energy management system, looking for trends, such as under and over utilized equipment.
C. Monitor control and alarm set points within the computerized energy management system.
D. Work with energy plant personnel to monitor/improve efficiency of the boiler and chiller operations.
E. Monitor natural gas prices to determine when utilizing alternate fuel such as fuel oil in facility boilers is of economical benefit to the facility.
F. Determine local set back parameters for unoccupied spaces after hours.
G. Evaluate existing energy savings systems, such a glycol loops, heat wheels and solar panels and recommending appropriate operational changes. H. Review and monitor contracts and contractor performance for water treatment such as softeners for boilers, chillers and food preparation or cleaning equipment for appropriateness and billing accuracy.
I. Manage the building/energy management system(s) and utility metering initiatives (electrical, water, etc.) ensuring proper use, expansion and administration.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Qualifications
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. (1) 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 (2) Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination 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;
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: In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-07. (1) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-09.
(1) Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following:
(a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade;
OR
(b) Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1);
(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.
(b) Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.
(c) Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system.
(d) Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management and to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-11.
(1) Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following:
(a) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade;
OR
(b) Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1);
(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
(b) Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.
(c) Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
(d) Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
(e) Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.
(f) Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-12.
(1)Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
(b) Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and related regulatory agency and organization (including, but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), etc.) regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives, standards and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering.
(c) Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
(d) Skill in 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.
(e) Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets.
(f) 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-12.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
Education
IMPORTANT: 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/.
Contacts
- Address White City VA Medical Center
8495 Crater Lake Highway
White City, OR 97503
US
- Name: Caleb Stone
- Phone: 208-422-1315
- Email: [email protected]
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