Healthcare Engineer (Energy Manager)

Healthcare Engineer (Energy Manager)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Chicago, Illinois

Salary Range: $150026 - $195037 Per Year

Job Summary: The 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 and National initiatives or programs. The position serves as the resident expert within the Medical Center at an assigned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System.

Major Duties:

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Conduct 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. Evaluates energy conservation measure opportunities as they apply to the health care system's existing utility and lighting systems and makes recommendations for implementation. Determines the requirements for healthcare projects in relation to the needs of the Healthcare System, inclusive of the parent site, as well as off-site locations under the auspice of the Healthcare System, whether VA owned or leased. Provides a broad review of all disciplines of Engineering when applied to a healthcare environment to support construction document reviews and preparation, as well as plant operational requirements. Resolves technical questions on energy conservation related issues. Leads other facility engineers, shops supervisors and equipment operators in ensuring compliance with VA energy program design standards and operational requirements. Evaluate programs and projects to assure compliance with all environmental, safety and security standards. Provide information to the Chief of the service regarding various Capital Planning needs for the facility to include information on the status of all assigned ongoing project activities. Develops initial concept documents, creates and maintains project and lease applications in multiple VA database systems, such as the Veterans Support Service Center (VSSC), Strategic Capital Investment Planning Tool, and Capital Assets Inventory. Plans and evaluates potential construction and maintenance projects, including preparation of project application documents, work scope statements, prepares designs, justifications, and cost estimates. Performs planning and analysis activities that include conducting or directly overseeing surveys and site investigations to establish baseline data necessary to initiate design for renovations, alterations, and additions to the existing hospital, patient care facilities, administrative buildings, grounds, utility plants and systems, and historic buildings listed on the national registry. Prepares correspondence, technical reports, estimates, fact sheets, progress reports, schedules, progress payments, and close-out documents as required to complete project assignments. Interact and coordinate with outside agencies such as State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO), Federal and State OSHA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local utility companies. Provides training and guidance to the contractor to improve the contractor's ability to work within the medical facility requirements and confinements to better perform the scope of work. Performs scheduling and layout of construction operations, and inspection and surveillance of materials, methods, and equipment used in construction. Provides professional advisory services to managers and administrators that cover complex situations that require adaptation or modification of precedents typical of the work environment. Generates, collects, analyzes, and verifies data required by the facility and in response to Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) and Central Office inquiries and provides the information directly to the Chief of the service, as required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:30PM Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 03772F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications: 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. English Language Proficiency: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 3 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; (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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; (CERTIFICATION OR TEST RESULTS REQUIRED) OR, (3) 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. (REGISTRATION OR LICENSURE REQUIRED) 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). IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND THE GS-13 REQUIREMENTS, CANDIDATES MUST MEET THE EXPERIENCE AND KSAs BELOW. GS-13 Grade Determinations: Specialized Experience: Must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12. 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 current and evolving concepts and principles of general engineering to resolve novel or obscure problems; extend and modify techniques; 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. (b) Skill in construction, capital planning and multiple healthcare system portfolio management inclusive of budget development and tracking. (c) 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-reaching matters through active participation in conferences, meetings or presentations. (d) Ability to interpret broad guidelines and exercise considerable judgment and ingenuity in interpreting and adapting existing guides, developing new and improved hypotheses, concepts or approaches to previously tested or reported and/or in developing new policies that advance the organization. (e) 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 requests and develop infrastructure options that result in the efficacious use of regional level capital strategic plans. (f) 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. (g) 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. (h) 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 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.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/13/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12946518. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-13