Building Automation System Specialist

Position Summary
Interior Health is looking for an experienced Building Automation System Specialist to join our team on a full time permanent basis.

This position offers a flexible work location from within the Interior Health region.

What we offer:
-Employee & Family Assistance Program
-Employer paid training/education opportunities
-Employer paid vacation
-Employer paid insurance premiums
-Extended health & dental coverage
-Municipal Pension Plan
-Work-life balance

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $90,770 (min) to $113,462 (midpoint) to $130,481 (max) per annum, based on 1.0 FTE. Interior Health typically establishes salaries within the minimum and midpoint of the salary range based on qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

About the job:
In accordance with the established vision and values of the organization, the Building Automation System Specialist (BASS) is accountable and responsible for leading the optimization of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and other types of control systems (e.g., lighting) across all Interior Health’s owned sites. Reporting to the Senior Energy Manager, Energy Management, and working closely with facility operators and DDC technicians, the BASS will maximize energy conservation and efficiency, while reducing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from existing assets.

The BASS is responsible for identifying, assessing, implementing, and documenting low cost/no cost operational type measures such as optimizing the schedules, set-points, sensors, and sequence of operations in existing building automation systems. The BASS will focus on existing buildings that have not been commissioned originally and buildings that have already been either commissioned or retro commissioned. The BASS will lead the modernization of existing building automation systems and assist with commissioning new/retrofitted building systems as needed, to ensure they function as intended.

Typical duties and responsibilities:

• Provides BAS / energy engineering expertise for the investigation, design, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of low cost / no cost BAS energy conservation and demands reduction measures related to HVAC and other types of control systems (e.g., lighting).

• Conducts a rigorous and comprehensive on-site investigation and analysis of the building operations, seeking to identify deficiencies and potential optimization in the operation and control of the building energy consuming systems. The goal is to optimize existing equipment with minimal capital costs.

• Implements measures identified, in consultation with facilities management, to ensure design intent is achieved and anticipated energy savings realized. Provides engineering and technician labor to program and commission software and hardware for changes to each system and operator interface.

• Gathers information to clarify the Facility’s Owner’s Operating Requirements (OOR), including operational schedules and implementation limitations.

• Provides recommendations on how to improve on existing OOR and implement changes as appropriate.

• Records and tracks findings including potential measures for implementation, and prepares energy savings, estimated implementation costs, and initial payback calculations.

• Uses engineering calculations or simulation models to estimate the energy and demand impacts of implementing the identified measures for each utility (electricity, gas, steam, etc.). If engineering support for the energy savings calculations is provided by another qualified in-house person or third-party consultant, the BASS will be responsible for providing the required data (e.g., equipment information, BAS trend logs, etc.) to facilitate the calculations.

• Ensures alignment with the duties and goals, as listed in the BC Hydro Building Automation System Specialist Agreement, and participates in quarterly meetings with BC Hydro to discuss the progress of various recommissioning projects.

• Maintains industry leading knowledge of energy and carbon optimization practices and technologies by liaising with other experts in the industry.

• Manages optimization, recommissioning, and building automation projects with budgets of up to $100,000 per project for energy studies, engineering, and construction services.
• Prepares business cases (cost/benefit analyses), including all necessary analytical and presentation work.
• Leads interdisciplinary teams, effectively coordinating and utilizing the services of consultants, vendors, and contractors.
• Prepares documentation (e.g., Invitation to Quote, Request for Proposals), and manages the procurement and selection process for services from consultants, vendors, and contractors.

• Travels frequently/regularly to various facilities throughout the Interior Health service area for system review, diagnostics, opportunity identification, staff engagement, and project delivery.

• Supports Plant Services and P3 Operations staff with training, support, maintenance, and projects regarding building automation systems.

• Provides expertise and technical system/design review to support facilities capital delivery projects (e.g., new building automation systems, Carbon Neutral Capital Program retrofit projects).

• Identifies, communicates, and instructs others in the best practices, designs and technologies, codes and standards, policies, and regulations related to all aspects of building automation.

• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization as well as representing Interior Health to key external business partners, including but not limited to other health authorities, provincial ministries, and utility providers.

• Applies for and secures incentives and rebates from utility partners and government for recommissioning, optimization, and building automation projects.

• In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, employees shall adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures at all times and attend all required training. Employees are responsible to report any identified hazards, unsafe conditions or incidents to the manager or supervisor immediately.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Honouring Interior Health’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preferential consideration and/or hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Education, Training, and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in electrical, electronic, controls, mechatronics, or mechanical engineering.
• Registered PEng, AScT, or equivalent.
• At least five (5) years’ experience working in a relevant controls/building automation system position (both hardware and software) including direct experience with BAS design, implementation, programming, and commissioning.
• Proven work experience and results with previous recommissioning projects of reasonable size and complexity.
• Experience installing BAS systems.
• Equivalent experience and training may be considered, e.g., Building Controls & Energy Management (BCEM) program at BCIT.

Skills and Abilities
• Experience in troubleshooting and debugging mechanical/HVAC and electrical/automation systems.
• Ability to analyze complex control sequences and resulting operations, revise and implement as necessary to optimize building systems performance.
• Ability to commission and program specific BAS systems.
• Ability to diagnose and manage the repair and/or install a wide range of control, sensing, and actuating devices.
• A solid understanding of mechanical HVAC systems, equipment types, functions, and efficiencies.
• Ability to perform building load, energy balance / estimating, and modeling methods would be an asset.
• Familiar with ASHRAE / IES / CSA Standards including those unique to hospital design and local building codes.
• Awareness of the distinctive design and operating requirements for hospitals in Canada.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and electrical drawings, sequence of operations, and equipment schedules.
• Ability to review previous mechanical system and energy study reports of various levels of detail.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and manage multiple complex projects at the same time, from conception to completion, delivering projects on time and on budget.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work both collaboratively with a team and independently.
• Proficiency in various PC based software (MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.).
• Excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, and presentation skills, both verbally and in writing, to ensure information is communicated appropriately to a variety of audiences both internal and external to the organization.
• Proven initiative, judgement, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to lead, facilitate, and gain consensus with various partners and teams.
• Ability to anticipate and respond to changing priorities or unforeseen opportunities.
• Demonstrated interest and enthusiasm related to energy efficiency with familiarity and knowledge of energy efficient technologies.
• Class 5 BC Driver's license as role requires some travel throughout IH.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.