Federal

Utility Programs Branch Chief

Public Buildings Service · General Services Administration
📍 San Francisco, California GS-14 $127,829 - $197,200/yr
Posted: May 14, 2026 Deadline: May 28, 2026 (Closes in 7 days)

About This Position

As the Utility Programs Branch Chief, you will direct and execute utility programs for the Public Buildings Service nationwide portfolio including demand response programs, utility bill auditing, and utility rate optimization. Location of position: The Public Buildings Service (PBS), Office of Facilities Management is responsible for the construction, alteration, and maintenance of federal buildings. We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide: the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year) number of hours per week you worked (if part time). If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume. The GS-14 salary range starts at $127,829.00 per year.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected. To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized Experience Statement: Specialized experience is defined as experience managing or leading complex programs related to utility services and energy management, facilities operations, or similar operational programs across government facilities portfolio and interagency customers' facilities to optimize the effectiveness across government and interagency customers' facilities.

Qualifying experience includes: Planning, developing, and overseeing complex national or organization-wide programs involving utilities management, energy initiatives, or facilities operations, ensuring program objectives, schedules, and performance goals are achieved. Applying program and project management principles to monitor program performance, analyzing operational challenges, and implementing solutions to improve program efficiency, effectiveness, and outcomes. Managing program operations including budget formulation and execution, audits, and program performance measurement systems to evaluate results and support strategic decision-making.

Analyzing policy, legislation, or industry developments affecting utilities, energy management, or facilities programs and providing recommendations to leadership regarding program implementation or improvement. Coordinating and directing the work of a team of staff by assigning and prioritizing work, monitoring progress toward program objectives, evaluating work results, providing technical guidance, and ensuring personnel and resources are effectively utilized to accomplish program goals.

Major Duties

Manages daily operations including budget formulation, program execution, audits, and contract management with minimum supervision. Conceives, initiates, and manages broad programs and processes dealing with the most challenging problems for utilities and energy management. Serves as the national programs expert and champion ensuring optimal implementation of national policies, practices and directives affecting utility and energy management programs.

Oversees effectiveness and improvement of complex program and management processes and systems encompassing difficult and diverse functions/issues affecting critical aspects of major programs. Participates in the development of national guidance and procedures for utilities and energy programs that impact portfolio-wide operations Uses organizational and technical knowledge, leadership, outstanding creativity, and exceptional judgment, develops, defines, and modifies programmatic and administrative objectives to solve complex problems and streamline functions critical to nationwide programs. Collaborates directly with representatives from other business lines and agencies staff offices concerning organizational planning, program execution, and process improvements.

Develops and implements new methods to measure and improve accomplishments, results, and effectiveness of complex programs and processes encompassing diverse functions. Performs full range of first-level supervisory responsibilities: assigns work based on priorities and milestones; establishes performance objectives; evaluates work performance; provides advice and counsel; resolves work problems.

Conditions of Employment

If selected, you must meet the following conditions: Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level). Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this.

Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position Serve a one year supervisory or managerial probationary period, if required

How You Will Be Evaluated

A panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the resumes of qualified candidates and assign a score for each of the five required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) based on the experience documented in the resume and narrative responses. Knowledge of complex utility programs and governing laws, regulations, methodologies and/or policies to provide sound and authoritative guidance/oversight. Ability to implement program/project management principles to monitor and manage all aspects of broad programs to ensure successful completion, recommending changes, solutions to problems, or redirection of effort, as required.

Knowledge of the agency's real estate portfolio and facilities operations processes, including skills and experience executing utility and energy programs. Skills and experience in working with and/or directing a cross-functional or multi-business-line team to accomplish an objective. Ability to communicate and present innovative strategies to a broad range of audiences (formal and informal situations), and to negotiate and work effectively with agency's personnel, personnel in private industry and other federal agencies.

Skill in managing and leading a team of professional staff to accomplish program objectives by planning, assigning and evaluating work, establishing priorities and performance expectations, providing coaching and feedback and ensuring compliance with organizational goals. Demonstration of these KSAs must be supported by your resume.

Applicants should also make note of each KSA, as you will be asked to address them later in the application process. Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process.

If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. If you are eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or GSA's Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), your resume must clearly demonstrate experience in at least 3 of the 5 required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) to receive priority consideration.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage. Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved: · Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government · Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee · Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.

How to Apply

Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job. If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device.

Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application. To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement. Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application. Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details. Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.

Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.

Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online.

You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process). Need Assistance? Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact [email protected] or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.

Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.

Required Documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying.

Your resume must contain the following information: Name, address, telephone number, email address; Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade); Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement. Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.

Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.

Note: If required to submit an SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action), an equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form is acceptable. The SF-50 or equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form must show all of the following: effective date, position, title, series, grade, and rate of basic pay, tenure group 1 (career) or 2 (career-conditional), position occupied group, and name of agency. If you are a GSA employee (except in the OIG), you are not required to submit an SF-50.

If you are claiming veterans preference: (a) DD-214 that shows your type of discharge, character of service and the dates of your active duty service. (b) If you are claiming 10-point preference or derived preference (spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a deceased or disabled veteran), you must submit documentation that establishes your entitlement

in addition to the DD-214: VA disability rating letter or other official documentation (refer to SF-15 for complete list). SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference

Note: If sufficient documentation is provided to establish 10-point preference, preference may be granted based on the supporting documentation even if the SF-15 is not submitted. If selected, a completed SF-15 will be required prior to appointment. IF YOU ARE: Active duty military- Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).

Federal employee or Reinstatement Eligible: Submit your latest SF-50. Eligible under an Interchange Agreement: Submit your latest SF-50. Former Peace Corp or VISTA volunteer: Submit your Description of Service.

Current or former Land Management Agency Employee - Submit a and b: (a) one or more SF-50s, including your most recent one that shows you were on a competitive time-limited appointment(s) with a Land Management Agency and served on the appointment for a period(s) totaling more than 24 months without a break of 2 or more years. (b) Copy of your agency's annual performance appraisal(s) or written reference(s) from a supervisor at the agency verifying satisfactory performance during your appointment(s). ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal. Current or former political appointee: Submit your SF-50.

Applying under another special appointment authority: Submit proof of your eligibility under the appropriate appointment authority. See USAJOBS for more information. If you have a disability: Submit proof of eligibility.

For information on eligibility and required documentation, refer to USAJOBS page for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Utility Programs Branch Chief position at Public Buildings Service?
The salary range for this position is $127,829 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Utility Programs Branch Chief job located?
This position is located in San Francisco, California. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
For each job on your resume, provide: the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year) number of hours per week you worked (if part time). If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume. The GS-14 salary range starts at $127,829.00 per year. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected. To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized Experience Statement: Specialized experience is defined as experience managing or leading complex programs related to utility services and energy management, facilities operations, or similar operational programs across government facilities portfolio and interagency customers' facilities to optimize the effectiveness across government and interagency customers' facilities. Qualifying experience includes: Planning, developing, and overseeing complex national or organization-wide programs involving utilities management, energy initiatives, or facilities operations, ensuring program objectives, schedules, and performance goals are achieved. Applying program and project management principles to monitor program performance, analyzing operational challenges, and implementing solutions to improve program efficiency, effectiveness, and outcomes. Managing program operations including budget formulation and execution, audits, and program performance measurement systems to evaluate results and support strategic decision-making. Analyzing policy, legislation, or industry developments affecting utilities, energy management, or facilities programs and providing recommendations to leadership regarding program implementation or improvement. Coordinating and directing the work of a team of staff by assigning and prioritizing work, monitoring progress toward program objectives, evaluating work results, providing technical guidance, and ensuring personnel and resources are effectively utilized to accomplish program goals.
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is May 28, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.