Healthcare Engineer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is seeking a Healthcare Engineer to join the Facilities Management Service at Oklahoma City, OK. The role focuses on energy audits, building systems optimization, and ESPC program management.

Responsibilities include commissioning activities, energy management system oversight, and collaboration with leadership to implement energy conservation projects across VISN facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture.
• Curriculum from ABET-accredited program or equivalent.
• Proficiency or licensure as Professional Engineer or Architect is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Perform energy audits (HVAC, lighting, building systems) to reduce energy use.
• Utilize energy survey equipment and software for measurements.
• Participate in commissioning and recommissioning projects and energy retrofits.
• Coordinate with Medical Center Leadership and regional energy offices on ESPC programs.
• Develop and implement energy conservation initiatives and monitoring procedures.

Skills

Health systems engineering

Energy management

Project coordination

Interagency collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture

ABET-accredited curriculum background

Tools

Energy management systems

ESPC knowledge

Job description

Summary

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is recruiting for one Healthcare Engineer within the Facilities Management Service at the Oklahoma City - OK location.

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. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Basic Requirements

• 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 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
• OR - Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect
• Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State - the District of Columbia - Guam or Puerto Rico
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - engineering - architecture or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.of this appendix
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English - in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Healthcare Engineer - GS-13 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level - the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of current and evolving concepts and principles of general engineering to resolve novel or obscure problems: extend and modify techniques
• to develop new approaches that guide other engineers who solve a variety of technical problems
• and/or apply new - innovative or experimental advanced engineering theories - developments or practices
• Skill in construction - capital planning and multiple healthcare system portfolio management inclusive of budget development and tracking
• Skill to collaborate with persons having different viewpoints - goals or objectives to achieve a common understanding of the problem and a satisfactory solution by justifying - defending - negotiating or settling controversial and far-reached matters through active participation in conferences - meetings or presentations
• Ability to interpret guidelines and exercise considerable judgment and ingenuity in interpreting and adapting existing guides - developing new and improved hypothesis - concepts - or approaches to previously tested or reported and/or in developing new policies that advance the organization
• Ability to coordinate and interact with regional facilities - national and corresponding staff for the implementation and coordination of policies and program plans to apply prioritization methodologies that align facilities' capital asset request and develop infrastructure options that result in the efficacious use of regional level capital strategic plans
• Ability to adapt and apply trends in healthcare delivery systems that impact long-term capital assets ( such as aging equipment and physical plants) for regionally integrated healthcare systems
• Ability to consult and collaborate with all organizational levels in a national healthcare organization - outside organizations and businesses regarding both strategic and financial activities of a regional healthcare organization
• Ability to implement and/or sustain a capital asset and construction program that meets healthcare facility related standards - codes - policies and regulations inclusive of state and local codes
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The vacancy is a GS-13 position - which is above the Full Performance Level
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent will conduct HVAC - lighting - building - steam generation system - domestic hot water - and other energy audits within the VISN using industry standard energy analysis tools to minimize energy consumption
• He/she must be proficient in the use of energy survey equipment (light meters - power factor meters - wattmeter - and anemometer) and computerized energy survey software (FEDS - ASEAM - or equal computer applications)
• The incumbent should also be familiar with computer-based Building and Energy Management Systems
• Incumbent plans - initiates and executes commissioning - recommissioning and retro-commissioning projects
• Incumbent provides associated audit reports directly to Medical Center Leadership - VISN Energy Office - VISN CAM or Energy Program Director and/or other Senior-Level VACO staff
• The incumbent must have experience in Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) or have attended ESPC training conducted by the Department of Energy or the Association of Energy Engineers in support of the implementation of programs mandated by Federal Law and Executive Order
• The incumbent will be responsible to ensure energy aspects of sustainability in facility construction projects - its operation and maintenance
• The incumbent manages and supports the Medical Center's Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC)
• The incumbent implements energy conservation initiatives and prepares project submission documents for cost effective energy conservation retrofit projects
• The incumbent works with the operations and maintenance sections to analyze and improve utility system energy performance - initiate - and provide support for the development of operational procedures and controls - including but not limited to the following: Monitor utility systems components looking for significant changes in consumption rates or quantities
• Evaluate data compiled from the computerized energy management system - looking for trends - such as under and over utilized equipment
• Monitor control and alarm set points within the computerized energy management systems
• Work with energy plant personnel to monitor/improve efficiency of boiler and chiller operations
• Monitor natural gas prices to determine when utilizing alternate fuel such as fuel oil in facility boilers is of economic benefit to the facility
• Determine local set back parameters for unoccupied spaces after hours
• Evaluate existing energy savings systems - such as glycol loops - heat wheels and solar panels and recommending appropriate operational changes
• 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
• Manage the building/energy management system(s) and utility metering initiatives (electrical - water - etc.) ensuring proper use - expansion - and administration
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Functional Statement #: 635-551240