Veterans Green Jobs has partnered with the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) to be the weatherization service provider for Denver and Jefferson Counties.  This is an annual contract that is a state funded Program to conduct energy audits and weatherization work for qualified low-income families.

Job Summary

The HVAC Technician/Installer directly supports an annual 1500-home weatherization goal through timely and professional installation/repair of HVAC systems.  The individual may work on a team or individually to accomplish the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Installs, maintains and repairs heating, ventilating, air conditioning and steam distribution equipment and systems to optimize energy use.

2. Operates a variety of equipment such as hand tolls, lap top computers and diagnostic hardware to perform work.

3. Installs, maintains and repairs computerized electronic pneumatic and digital direct control devises related to HVAC and heat control.

4. Operates various measuring, diagnostic and testing instruments.

5. Requisitions material and supplies from stockroom, calls vendors to discuss needs for parts and supplies and recommends purchases and suppliers.

6. Maintains electronic/pneumatic testing equipment.

7. Performs brazing, soldering, pipefitting, welding and fabrication.

8. Installation of HVAC ductwork including flexible tubing and sheet metal construction.

9. Conserve, install and recycle CFC and HCFC(Chlorofluorocarbon family) refrigerants.

10. Provide professional interaction with customers.

11. Interact with the Weatherization Crews and Crew coordinator to complete work in an efficient manner with minimal customer downtime or disruption.

12. Maintain work vehicle in a clean and working condition and report any mishaps or accidents as soon as they happen.

13. Other duties as assigned by the HVAC Manager.

Required Management Attributes

To be effective in this organization’s cooperative leadership structure, an individual must possess the following attributes:  placing others above self, dedication to a team, high level of self awareness, strong communication skills and willingness to work on all issues in cooperation with colleagues.

Veterans Green Jobs is prepared to offer a starting base salary of $25.00/hr (plus benefits).  This position also has potential for increased salary and advancement within VGJ’s other programs.  The successful candidate will be expected to work from Denver, CO.

Please send resume and cover letter with the subject line: Training Manager to:  hr@veteransgreenjobs.org no later than October 1, 2010 .

Veterans Green Jobs is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Women, People of Color, Gays and Lesbians, Transgender People, Veterans and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

There is at least one major sector of the American job market that is growing fast right now – despite the recession – and that’s green jobs. According the American Solar Energy Society’s 2007 green jobs report, [download here ] “green industries already generate 8.5 million jobs in the U.S., and with appropriate public policy, could grow to as many as 40 million jobs by 2030.” A recent New York Times article noted that “56,000 newly trained workers and 14,000 project managers would be needed to realize [President] Obama’s one-year goals for energy efficiency alone.”

Green jobs and careers are those that fall under industries that are in the process of “greening” America, or in other words, making this country more environmentally friendly and sustainable. They include everything from energy conservation and alternative energy to natural resource management to green construction. The following diagram presents many of the career pathways that you might pursue through Veterans Green Jobs.

Veterans Green Jobs believe that green careers lead not only to job security and prosperity for our nations veterans, but that work which strengthens and heals our planet, economy and communities is inherently meaningful, especially for those citizens who have already expressed a willingness and leadership capacity in serving this country.

Please visit our site frequently, as we will be adding lots of information on green jobs and careers on an ongoing basis. In the meantime, here are some additional resources on green jobs (sometimes referred to as green-collar jobs).

Green Jobs Resources

Green Building Certification Institute
LEED Professional Credentials – Green Jobs for Veterans

Green for All
An overview of green-collar jobs

Green Mechanical Council
A consortium of green-minded professionals, businesses and unions

Green-Collar Vets
Linking veterans with green skills development, education and employment

Greenjobs.com Green Jobs Board

All crew members engage in educational activities and discussions for approximately 7-10 hours per week–typically in the evenings and on weekends. Weekends or other scheduled time off the project work provides time for crew recreational activities, performing personal tasks such as laundry, crew food shopping and moving camp when necessary. Corps members are expected to remain with their crew for the duration of their term of service and participate in all aspects of the program including the educational and recreational activities.

Corps members are in the public eye at all times and will be expected to demonstrate appropriate safety, project and youth corps behavior. Uniforms and personal protective equipment must be worn while working on projects.

I’ve been driving and fueling buses with biodiesel for veteran and disaster relief organizations since 2004. This work has was inspired by my military experience in the Middle East and hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. If one believes in the goals of our military mission in the Middle East or in global warming or not, the two issues are connected and there must be solutions if the human race is to survive and prosper.

The fact that America needs the oil that comes out of the Middle East is one of the most significant reasons why we are there today. Spending billions to secure our interests and create stability in the region will continue for some time. This will continue to reduce our ability to respond to natural disasters here at home.

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, three things are true: 1) The amount of oil in the planet is not enough to sustain the world’s economy. Therefore, we need alternative fuels; 2) Having our national guard in another country when we are facing increased number and size of hurricanes, fires and other natural disasters at home requires that we improve our disaster preparedness and response systems significantly; 3) Our economy is in the tank. Whatever we do, it must include making and increasing the amount of alternative energy used in this country to be able to sustain our recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Fix-all solutions to these problems are not known. I certainly don’t claim to know what they are. But, from my own direct experience, I can say without hesitation that we need to get moving in a different direction that is sustainable for the next generation to be better off that ours.

The search for real solutions starts with investment in new ideas. At Veterans Green Jobs we are making investments in new ideas, business models and concepts of rebuilding America sustainably.

Demonstrating alternative energy solutions and adapting them to disaster relief and rebuilding is my mission within the organization. To help accomplish it we are building a biodiesel and solar powered bus with communications technologies to share the Veterans Green Jobs training with the country.

Over the next several weeks I will be documenting the bus retrofit process and discussing the reasons for each component we put in it. I hope that it will be both educational and inspirational for the veterans and the people they will be serving with it’s use as a green disaster response vehicle.

Check back here for updates, follow us on Twitter http://veteransgreenjobs.org/twitter, or check us out on Facebook http://veteransgreenjobs.org/facebook .

Application Deadline: March 29th, 2009. Applications will be processed as they are received and the position will remain open until filled.

Position Overview

This newly created senior position oversees all Veterans Green Jobs (VGJ) program activities. The Director of Programs supervises state and regional program staff and coordinates the VGJ Management Team. Veterans Green Jobs is a rapidly growing organization; the Director of Programs ensures the quality and sound management of current programs while integrating new opportunities as they are identified. The position reports to the CEO and will be located in the greater Boulder-Denver metro area. Approximately 25-50% of time will be spent traveling, primarily to Veterans Green Jobs training sites.

About Veterans Green Jobs

Veterans Green Jobs is an unprecedented national initiative that offers creative and concrete solutions for three of the most urgent issues of our time: the rebuilding of a sustainable green economy; reversing deteriorating environmental conditions and climate change threats; and our country’s need to serve the returned or returning military veterans who deserve meaningful new careers. VGJ’s core program is the Veterans Green Jobs Academy, which partners with community colleges, nonprofits and industry partners to provide training opportunities for military veterans in the emerging green-collar jobs sector. In addition, VGJ connects veterans with a wide range of complimentary resources to assist with military transitions. VGJ represents a new form of veteran service organization that engages veterans and non-veterans alike towards the common goal of building a more sustainable future. By supporting both veterans and the development of a green economy, the VGJ’s work is restorative to our veterans, our economy and our planet. VGJ is a national NGO, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado (http://ci.boulder.co.us/).

Program Description: Veterans Green Jobs Academy &amps; Enterprises
VGJ, in collaboration with a broad consortium of partners, is launching a national Green Jobs Academy to support returning military veterans to become leaders in the rapidly emerging green jobs industry through cutting-edge training programs. VGJ’s Veterans Green Jobs Academy will provide both classroom-based and on-the-job training (OJT) opportunities in a range of fields including renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building, historic building restoration, and disaster preparedness, response and reconstruction. Academy programs will launch in a variety of states in 2009, including Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Louisiana. We anticipate VGJ Training Programs available in up to 10 states in 2009, and up to 20 states in 2010.

Position Responsibilities

Academy Programs Management

The Director of Programs will supervise and support program staff, working closely with the Director of Education/Academy Dean, at multiple training sites to develop and carry out program activities in association with a wide range of partners including community and four-year colleges and universities, veteran service organizations, businesses and other nonprofit/community partners.

Enterprise Management

Academy OJT programs will be run in a “live” enterprise context—VGJ will supervise non-profit enterprises conducting energy efficiency, conservation, green building and other green enterprise activities. This gives participants real-world enterprise experience, and generates fee-for-service revenue to support VGJ programs. A business background is not required, but demonstrated experience in social venture management is strongly preferred.

Skills and Abilities

Minimum of Master’s Degree [M1]or equivalent experience in relevant field(s). Experience with multi-site management and supervision; experience managing a business or a fee-for-service focused non-profit organization including financial management; comfort in a team-based management structure; strong programmatic background; flexibility; strong communication skills; and willingness to travel. Exposure [M2]or participation in “green jobs” or related fields strongly preferred. Sense of humor required.

Salary and Benefits

First year salary will be in the range of $45,000-$55,000 full-time plus benefits package (health insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, comp time, etc.). Opportunities for accelerated advancement of wage and responsibilities are anticipated based on program success and staff member performance.

The VGJ team is a dynamic, diverse and committed group of individuals who seeks not only to improve the world we live in and the lives of returning veterans, but also to model a sustainable, green organization.

Application Process

Please send cover letter, résumé, and references will[M3] contact information to team@veteransgreenjobs.org and include the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line. No phone calls please. Application Deadline: March 29, 2009. Interviews with promising candidates will take place on rolling basis and position will remain open until filled.

We are looking for thoughtful, personalized cover letters that demonstrate your qualifications and writing style. Please explain why you are inspired to work with Veterans Green Jobs and how you would apply your experience to this position. No phone calls, please.

VGJ is an equal opportunity employer.

The Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference will set the stage for stakeholders from across the country to forge an agenda for realizing the enormous opportunities we can achieve by investing in green jobs – and Veterans Green Jobs is there to ensure that our nation’s war veterans play a leadership role in that movement.

Check back for more updates from the conference.

Although I wore hope on my collar I had doubt in my heart. It has been four years since I was in the Diyala River Valley in Iraq with my fellow scouts. When I joined up as a cavalry trooper in the US Army I had the delusion that because I was sacrificing to serve my nation, I would be taken care of if I were injured in the line of duty, or given benefits that put me back on par with my peers that chose not to serve. I thought Americans would do what was necessary to ensure war was avoidable and that they would do there part at home to create a country that supported their military and veterans. Instead, I returned from combat to find my country in economic ruin, the early signs of global warming effecting our environment, an even greater dependency on foreign oil, and my fellow brothers and sisters in arms neglected.

President Barack Obama stood before the immense crowd and, as always, seemed to speak honestly about change. He spoke about veterans, saying, “We honor them not only because they are the guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service, a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.” I have heard politicians make empty promises about supporting veterans, and I have watched in dismay as they turned their backs when we needed them most. It was not President’s Obama’s words that gave me encouragement that day. It was the reaction of the people watching, the energy in their eyes. It was indeed the greatest assembly of hope I have ever witnessed.

“Yes we can,” isn’t enough for change. That is why finding and joining Veterans Green Jobs has me feeling so optimistic. Veterans Green Jobs is a group that is taking hope a step further; actually creating a program to train veterans in growing green industries. I am now bringing together my fellow service members and empowering them to become leaders in solving this country’s greatest challenges. Veterans Green Jobs is a “yes we are” organization that isn’t waiting for change, we are creating it, one veteran at a time.

By taking qualities earned through the military and the desire to serve others and combining new knowledge and aptitudes in green careers, Veterans Green Jobs will create a dependable workforce to restore America’s environment, economy and communities. Veterans Green Jobs empowers veterans to once again serve their country alongside their comrades. This meaningful work is rewarding and provides veterans with skills that in the coming years will remain in demand – and cannot be outsourced. This green mobilization will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and business opportunities. Veterans Green Jobs gives veterans the chance to get on the ground floor of the fastest growing industry of our generation.

When most of the crowd left the National Mall to head for warmth and shelter, they were excited to see what was next. As I passed the reflecting pool and the Vietnam Memorial wall, I thought about my role in the changes to come. I thought about my father and what he fought for in Vietnam and my Grandfathers in World War II. I thought about my children and the world that I will leave to them. I am not in a position to wait to see what changes come, it is time for me to set to work and create the society I am proud of.

- Garett

With the national economy in the toilet and a dependence on foreign oil a national security issue. A coalition of environmentalists and labor would have an easy push to develop renewable energy in the West. We already have an energy industry, so there is an infrastructure. Because of our hydroelectric system, we have the higher capacity transmission lines necessary to move wind and solar generated electricity around this half of the continent.

About half of the western states already have renewable energy targets as a percentage of total state generation, and they are making a significant contribution to those state economies. In Texas, the economic success in the existing law to supply 2.7% of power demand from renewable sources by 2009 has led to at least two proposals to increase the percentage over a longer period. One proposal is projected to provide a total consumer energy savings of $5.6 billion. California already reaps a $3.1 billion boost to its economy from its 10% renewable power quota.

But it could do much more. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, California can produce 100% of its electrical power renewably and within its own boundaries, keeping all of those expenditures and those jobs in the state. That would give Utah a chance to reduce coal emissions, while it develops its own capacity. Texas has the capacity to produce six times the amount of electricity it uses and then export it to Louisiana, Tennessee Alabama and Florida all of which lack the capacity to generate the power they need from renewable sources.

California has studied what the green polices have done for its economy. Between 1977 and 2007 energy-efficiency policies created nearly 1.5 million jobs while eliminating fewer than 25,000. Statewide it was able to increase payrolls by $44.6 billion. Since half the states in the West are 30 years behind California, they have a similar potential for new job creation.

For states like the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming which have over 80 times the renewable energy generation capacity, they could be the new industrial centers where that clean power is used to recycle steel, glass, aluminum and plastic, creating jobs and making us independent of China. That is who buys all of those materials now and then sells them back to us at Wal-Mart at a profit. We could keep that money in this country, employing Americans.

This new year is going to bring about a lot of changes to the economy. Here in the West we have the capacity to keep our economy strong, statewide, regionally and nationally. But it will take new paradigm to access that capacity. There is a political will to develop that paradigm and federal support as well. If there is enough of the pioneer left in us we might be able to develop this wilderness too.

This article originally appeared in Bad Chili Magazine Issue 6, 12/06/08. Reprinted with the author’s permission.

- Richard Knaub

For the next three years I worked with several nonprofit organizations providing immediate disaster relief, medical assistance and eventually recovery and rebuilding efforts. I learned a great deal from the volunteers and people we helped about effective disaster response, recovery and rebuilding.

As Green Technologies Coordinator for Veterans Green Jobs it is my goal to share what I’ve learned from these experiences so that when the next disaster hits the Gulf Coast, the most vulnerable communities will be prepared and that there will be teams of trained veterans ready to help.

I hope you’ll explore this site to see how you can get involved, too.

- Gordon

Green Technology On The Front Lines