Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties may include:

• Perform installation, maintenance, modifications and repair of various types of air conditioning equipment which is characterized by moderate complexity.
• Utilize energy management control system in the information and command modes to operate equipment and provide the ability to troubleshoot HVAC system.
• Make recommendations for planned maintenance and performs quality assurance follow-up inspections after major repair and overhauls to assure excellence in workmanship.
• Installs, maintains, and repairs tubing, valves, fittings, castings, and equipment by welding, brazing, soldering, and flaring.
• Repairs, installs, and modifies all types of air conditioning, heat, and ventilation duct work throughout the various buildings.
• Communicate with medical facility's professional and administrative staff to exchange trade practice information and arrange for access to areas requiring maintenance or repair

Work Schedule: 7:00am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday.
Position Description Title/PD#: Air Cond Equip Mechanic/PD01149A
Physical Requirements: Must have full physical mobility because incumbent must be able to walk up and down stairs, move in between and around machinery to record operating temperatures and pressures. Must have good vision and be able to use hands to make necessary adjustments to operating equipment. Frequent standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching, and stooping is required. Occasionally, climbing and work in high places is required. Employee must be able to lift at least 50 pounds. Assistance is usually available with heavy items and will be requested when needed to avoid injury.
Working Conditions: Incumbent is subject to high and low temperature conditions with changes occurring from high to low or vice-versa within minutes. Mechanic is subject to electric shock, burns from steam and hot water, bruises, cuts, scrapes, and punctures. He/she may be exposed to contagious disease, unpleasant odors, dust, and dirt. Work can be considered dangerous because of water from cleaning and condensation on the floor around machinery, high noise levels, chemicals used, moving machinery, and high voltage equipment within the work space.

Will work within the medical facility's operating functions and must use all appropriate safety tools and clothing etc. to protect himself, other staff, visitors and patients. Other assignments can be in remote areas such as sub-basements, machinery rooms, rooftops, roads, and walkways.

Must always be aware of safety hazards and know what action should be taken to avoid . them. Incumbent must observe all local and National Safety Codes. Must know and comply with all the safety factors of the trade to prevent fires and injury to patients and personnel.

He/she will be required to wear a respirator as needed and will become asbestos qualified and maintain the qualification for the Hospital Safety program.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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-year probationary 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Required:

• Resume

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• License
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps