BAS Technician

Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) seeks a BAS Technician in Facilities Operations Admin. The technician will monitor, maintain, and repair Building Automation Systems (BAS) to keep assets operating efficiently, supporting mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services.

Responsibilities include 24/7 on-call BAS support, programming and graphics updates across JCI, Siemens, and Tridium platforms, CMMS documentation, and collaboration with zone staff, engineers, and vendors.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Several years of HVAC or electrical trade experience.
• Several years of BAS service or installation experience, incl. 2+ years with Niagara 4.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, plans, and schematics.
• Valid Virginia Driver's License required.
• Commitment to respectful, professional conduct with a diverse population.

Responsibilities

• Provide BAS technical support to internal and external customers, including after-hours coverage.
• Monitor BAS daily to ensure assets operate as designed and identify needs.
• Escalate complex issues to leadership with documented notes.
• Complete work orders per policy with professional conduct.
• Perform BAS programming changes and graphics updates across multiple platforms (JCI, Siemens, Tridium).
• Perform preventive and reactive BAS maintenance and component repairs.
• Collaborate with zone staff, engineers, and vendors to improve BAS operations.
• Maintain CMMS logs and TIMECARD notes for all work.
• Review plans/drawings for new/renovation projects as SME.

Skills

HVAC service

DDC (Direct Digital Controls)

BAS service/installation

Tridium Niagara 4

Read drawings/plans

Valid Virginia Driver's License

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

JCI BAS platform

Siemens BAS platform

Tridium Niagara 4 platform

Job description

Duties & Responsibilities

Unit: Facilities Operations Admin

Department: Facilities Ops Admin

Duties & Responsibilities

VCU’s Facilities Management Department is seeking to hire a BAS Technician.

The BAS Technician monitors, maintains, and repairs Building Automation Systems (BAS), assuring that VCU assets are operating effectively and efficiently while meeting customer requirements. The BAS Technician provides BAS support to zone personnel as needed to ensure they can complete mechanical, electrical, or plumbing services.

• Provide technical service support of BAS for internal and external customers during regular and after-hours timeframes to include weekends, holidays, and on-call service periods
• Perform daily review and monitoring of BAS to ensure assets are operating as designed and identify service needs and opportunities identified through the BAS
• Alert leadership of service issues beyond your capability of repair for corrective action to include documentation of needs
• Complete work order requests per policy and procedure while interacting in a professional and workmanlike manner following the VCU Code of Conduct
• Perform maintenance and repairs to BAS to include, but not limited to, sensor calibrations, device and program troubleshooting, installation of BAS components, review of BAS programming for operation and system integrity, plan/system review and comments, data monitoring, collection, and interpretation to include trends and projections for all points and alarms
• Perform programming verifications to ensure systems are operating per design or intent across multiple BAS platforms (JCI, Siemens, Tridium, etc.)
• Perform BAS programming and graphics changes as needed and to VCU standards across multiple BAS platforms (JCI, Siemens, Tridium, etc.)

Additional Responsibilities Include (but Are Not Limited To)

Work Management

• Utilize trades and automation skills and diagnostic tools to independently respond to assigned work requests based on priority, ensuring quality workmanship

• Provide notes log documentation of all work performed and update phase statuses utilizing established CMMS Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to include complete, accurate, and in the field on the job entered notes for TIMECARD notes that customers have access to. Additionally, departmental use notes are to be entered appropriately as INFO ONLY notes
• When applicable, provide related documents using CMMS by uploading pictures from the job site that may prove beneficial for further troubleshooting or diagnosis
• Monitor overall BAS efficiency through daily system checks, documenting these checks through CMMS following CMMS note log requirements to include daily review of the Operations Center Log for any BAS entries
• Perform BAS component repairs, maintenance, and replacements for both reactive and preventive work orders.
• Work with zone staff to identify and correct system issues identified through BAS monitoring and review
• Perform daily monitoring and testing of lab, research, and DAR spaces, documenting service needs, corrective actions, and anomalies to meet customer expectations and reporting requirements
• Perform installations, repairs, and maintenance to include cable and wire pulls, conduit runs, and device/equipment cabinet installations
• Perform BAS programming changes as needed to include coding and sequence changes
• Create BAS graphics in alignment with VCU standards
• Review BAS, HVAC, and other plans, drawings, submittals for new and renovation construction projects providing input and direction as a subject matter expert
• Collaborate with departmental technicians, staff engineers, and vendors to identify operational improvement and corrective action opportunities through BAS
• Upwardly communicate all critical system failures through completion to appropriate personnel while including documentation within CMMS

Timecards

• Complete daily time card entry per established CMMS Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to include complete, accurate, and field-entered notes

• Complete scheduled preventive maintenance within the month of the date issued
• Provide backlog notes documentation for all work requests over 30 days with an emphasis on completion
• Identify and document system deficiencies as observed, and advise management of tasks requiring priority attention
• Perform all work in a safe and workmanlike fashion, complying with all University and Departmental safety policies and guidelines
• Maintain shop and departmental common and storage spaces to ensure that they are orderly and neat, with items stored properly and safely

Customer Service

• Communicate respectfully to internal and external customers, treating all work or service requestors as customers
• Communicate with the customer for every work order request at the time of service completion or delay to provide an update on services rendered and the status of the request. Document the means of notification to include the name, date, and time of who was notified, within the notes portion of the work order
• Work as a member of the team, striving for collaboration and support of each co-worker by taking ownership of identified problems and helping in a supportive manner to co-workers when needed
• Interact with others to collectively resolve problems, accomplish mutual goals, and foster an atmosphere of trust

• Communicate respectfully throughout the Department, Division, and University
• Communicate respectfully with vendor service providers

Other Duties As Assigned

• Report for all inclement weather, emergency, and special events as required
• Report for all emergency and scheduled on-call duty as assigned
• Complete all University and Departmental required training within the specified time frames given
• Identify BAS needs to include replacement or upgrade priorities and communicate them with your supervisor monthly or as urgent requests when necessary
• Identify BAS components that are obsolete or require an extended lead time. Document these items in a shared file with department staff, updating it at least once a month
• Work with the Asset Management team to identify and tag BAS assets within CMMS and provide periodic asset assessments
• Participate in project and design reviews for automation projects

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Several years of HVAC service, Direct Digital Controls service (DDC), or electrical trade service experience (may be combined)
• Several years of documented BAS service or installation experience (may be combined) with at least two (2) years of Tridium Niagara 4 service experience
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret drawings, plans, schematics, and scopes of work
• Valid Virginia Driver's License required
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Journeyman HVAC or Electrician in the State of Virginia preferred
• Completion of three (3) or more controls vendor (JCI, Siemens, Tridium, ALC) development courses preferred
• Demonstrating understanding of HVAC and energy management principles preferred

Salary Range: $70,000 - $83,500

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Work Days/Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm, shifts are 8 hours, after-hours as needed; regular on-call rotation required

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: 17154N - Sr Electrical, Instrumentation, and Control [EI&C] Technician FM1