SummaryThe Healthcare Engineer (Energy) serves within Facilities Management Service at the VA Portland Health Care System. The position supports energy management, conservation, healthcare engineering, facility infrastructure, and construction activities at the Portland and Vancouver VA Medical Centers and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
Learn more about this agencyDutiesHelp
Major duties include, but are not limited to:
- Performs project planning, design, construction management, and construction administration for Minor Construction, Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM), Station-Level, and lease projects involving healthcare facilities and infrastructure.
- Serves as an energy management subject matter expert, advising on energy conservation practices, evaluating existing mechanical and building systems, and recommending energy efficiency improvements in accordance with federal and VA standards.
- Evaluates mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and other utility systems to identify deficiencies, troubleshoot operational problems, and develop cost-effective engineering solutions.
- Conducts energy audits of HVAC, lighting, buildings, steam generation, domestic hot water, and other energy-consuming systems using standard energy analysis tools to minimize energy consumption.
- Works with operations and maintenance personnel to analyze and improve utility system energy performance and implement energy conservation initiatives.
- Develops project requirements, scopes of work, conceptual designs, construction specifications, cost estimates, and technical documentation for healthcare engineering and infrastructure improvement projects.
- Reviews architectural and engineering designs, drawings, specifications, and technical submissions for compliance with VA design requirements, applicable healthcare codes, engineering standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Manages healthcare engineering projects through planning, design, construction, activation, and completion while monitoring schedules, budgets, contract requirements, and impacts on patient care operations.
- Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on assigned architectural/engineering and construction contracts, reviewing contractor submittals, change orders, inspections, progress payments, and contract compliance.
- Leads Integrated Project Teams (IPTs), coordinates multidisciplinary engineering activities, and collaborates with facility leadership, clinical staff, contractors, and other stakeholders to accomplish project objectives.
- Prepares and monitors utility budgets, advises management of potential budget shortfalls, and evaluates factors affecting energy expenditures.
- Prepares quarterly energy consumption data and enters required information into applicable VA reporting systems.
- Provides technical guidance and training to maintenance personnel regarding complex utility systems, infrastructure operations, and engineering-related technical issues.
- Ensures construction and engineering activities comply with applicable VA requirements, The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other relevant regulatory standards.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
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
RequirementsHelp
Conditions of employment- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- 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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
QualificationsApplicants 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:
- Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
- English Language Proficiency. Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
- 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.
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:
Healthcare Engineer, GS-07.- Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-09.- 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);
- OR
- (c) Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the core competencies for GS-09 level assignment.
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.
- Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.
- Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system.
- 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.- 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);
- OR
- (c) Master of Engineering degree, Master of Architecture degree, Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1), plus 1 full year of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment;
- OR
- (d) Bachelor's degree as outlined in paragraph 3.b.(1) plus 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment.
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
- Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.
- Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
- Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
- Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.
- 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.- 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 mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
- 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.
- Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
- 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.
- 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.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit ;br>
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.
Continued in Education section.EducationPhysical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. 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 storage areas or hazardous waste sites. 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 or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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: 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: ;br>
Additional informationDuring the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
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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