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 Boiler Plant Operator is a key position in maintaining the safe, uninterrupted operations of the boiler plant, which is a very complex, potentially dangerous and critically needed resource of the Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Maintains repairs and operates the Boiler Plant and related equipment and systems.
• Operator must accomplish daily chemical analysis of boiler water.
• Responsible for the operation of four (4) sets of boiler controls., ensuring a continuing production of steam and hot water.
• Determines adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.
• Performs minor electrical repairs within the boiler plant to include but not limited to wiring of pumps/ motors/ control valves, troubleshooting controls, and replacing breakers.
• Repairs, installs, modifies hot water generating equipment and circulating pumps, natural gas and fuel oil, and related tanks, fittings, valves, traps, mixing, and pressure regulating apparatus.
• Prepare and participate in the inspection of all boilers by a certified licensed boiler inspector.
• Assist Chemical Company representative in taking water samples each month in conjunction with required tests. Using daily test results, Operator must blend and introduce required chemical dosage to meet Bureau Boiler water specifications.
• Responsible for cleaning duties such as washing down floors, sweeping, mopping, stripping and waxing of all tile floors, cleaning all sinks, chemical test station and other areas, pipes, tanks, and boiler tops.
• Other duties as prescribed by the Boiler Plant Work Leader.

Work Schedule: 4pm-12am Friday and Monday; 12pm-12am on Saturday and Sunday. This schedule is subject to a rotating 7 day, 3 shift operation to include weekend and holidays. Includes a 25% per hour shift premium Saturday and Sunday, along with shift differential.
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD03074A

Physical Requirements: Incumbent is frequently subject to very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous conditions. They must be in satisfactory physical and mental condition and fit for duty at all times. The incumbent works from ladders, scaffolding and hydraulic platforms. They often work in portions of the utility systems requiring attention that are cramped, dirty and hard-to-reach locations. The work may involve prolonged crouching and standing and frequent stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and working in exhausting and uncomfortable positions. The Incumbent must be capable accessing the water side and the fire box of the water tube boilers. The incumbent frequently lifts or carries tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding, parts and supplies up to 50 pounds. Occasionally, the incumbent will be required to lift and carry items over 80 pounds. Incumbent must possess valid state driver's license. NOTE: Must be able to fit through a 12"X16" manway for confined space entry.

Working Conditions: Exposed to a full array of weather conditions. Subject to danger of falling when working from ladders or hydraulic lifts. Exposed to dust/dirt. Work is performed mostly in an operating boiler plant with some work outside. Work is often dirty, dusty, and greasy. The incumbent is subjected to such hazardous conditions as injury from power driven tools, falling from scaffolds and ladders, temperature extremes, noise, and bad weather conditions. The incumbent is frequently exposed to the possibilities of cuts, bruises, scratches, broken bones, and burns. They are subject to asbestos exposure and chemicals which can cause burns or irritation to the skin. Some duties may require incumbent to wear protective equipment and clothing that is heavy and uncomfortable.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

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.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: High Pressure boiler plant experience

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:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Measurement and Layout
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Technical Practices
• 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.

Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

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
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• 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