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.

The general duties of an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic are to maintain and operate all heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems through the medical center and outer campus buildings. This includes general repair, maintenance, modifications, dismantling and reassembling ice machines, freezers, walk-in coolers, refrigerators, food and nutrition modules, air conditioning roof top units, medical unit refrigerators, cooling towers, chillers, heating and cooling pumps, Liebert Units (air handling units), morgue refrigeration units, kitchen refrigeration, and all heating and ventilation systems. The work in this position involves installing and recognizing the cause of faulty equipment. The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic also makes repairs to large industrial types of air conditioning equipment by modifying the equipment (if necessary). The repair process can include relocation of equipment such as nutrition freezers, pharmacy refrigerators, laboratory refrigerators and other various special purpose air conditioning units and/or systems that provide specific climate conditions, from patient care areas, patient units, and research areas. The work also includes all related valves, piping, electronic and pneumatic controls, pumps, cooling towers, converters, fans, centrifuges, computers and computer associated controls, variable frequency drives (VFD's), air compressors, and chemical water treatment stations. Duties also include:

• Performing air balancing, modifying various elements of the system, air quality surveys, and isolation of HVAC control and maintenance systems.
• The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic will consult with the respective engineer and inspect newly constructed areas.
• The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is able to perform his/her duties at the journeyman level, read blue prints and diagrams to troubleshoot equipment. Incumbent performs maintenance and repair to several hundred stand-alone expansion units, ice makers, drinking fountains, walk-in refrigerators and freezers. Incumbent assumes duties of an operator for the Energy Control Center as needed.
• He/she performs general repairs, maintenance, modifications, along with dismantling and reassembling major centrifugal A/C units.
• He/she must have the skill and knowledge to size, alter, modify or substitute components and elements in order to provide specific and climatic conditions.
• He/she must have the skill and highly technical knowledge of air balancing in order to maintain the testing and balancing of isolation areas in accordance with Infection Control, Safety, Life Safety, and Engineering requirements.
• He/she must be able to meet specified pressure and temperature characteristics within environmental growth chambers, controlled temperature rooms and existing ultra-cold systems within this medical center.
• He/she must be able to work directly with project engineers, contractors, and VA staff when planning and modifying a system in order to meet specific conditions which are required by technical personnel, researchers, staff and physicians.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm; subject to changed based on facility needs
Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD03697A
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: Not authorized

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
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Driver's License Requirement: Applicants must possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Applicants are required to pass agency Government Vehicle Drivers physical examination. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license.
• Pre-employment physical is required

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. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Technical Practices
• Troubleshooting
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision

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.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Pulling hand over hand 2 hours; Pushing 2 hours; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking 8 hours; Standing 8 hours; Crawling 3 hours; Kneeling 3 hours; Repeated bending 2 hours; Climbing, legs only 2 hours; Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle;
Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors;
Hearing (aid may be permitted); Hearing without aid.

Working conditions: Most of the work is usually performed inside, but the incumbent is frequently subject to sudden temperature changes when working on equipment such as walk-in freezer units. He/She is occasionally subjected to cuts, burns, electrical shock, and respiratory ailments; and exposed to repeated, prolonged or concentrated amounts of refrigerant gasses that may cause toxic effects on eyes, skin, and internal organs. There is an occupational requirement to work outside, on top of tall buildings, in drafty attic spaces, and in cramped areas with low overheads.

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

RESUME REQUIREMENTS - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:- Job Title (for each position)- Description of duties (be as detailed as possible)- Month and year start/end dates (e.g. June 2018 to April 2020) of employment- Full-time or part-time status (include average hours worked per week)

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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