Maintenance Mechanic Supervisor (HVAC Supervisor)

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent employees of the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL and its outreach facilities including CBOCs, Veterans Canteen Service employees.

Major Duties:

Plans daily, weekly, and monthly work to be accomplished by subordinates. Establishes deadlines and priorities for the performance of Preventive Maintenance (PMs), workloads, and emergency responses based on methods, procedures, deadlines, and goals. Determines what assignments can be completed concurrently, which to delay, and the number and type of personnel needed (considering skills, personnel, materials, and equipment required and available).

Investigates work-related problems and implements corrective actions. Incumbent serves as Contracting Officer Representative (COR); analyzes and projects short- and long-range maintenance and repair costs; submits proposals to higher management; maintains a variety of records; and prepares various reports.

The HVAC Supervisor is directly responsible for all personnel and administrative matters involving the assigned trade shop. Incumbent provides necessary inspections, documentation, follow-up action, and training to meet all Joint Commission, OSHA, AWE, VACO, VISN, and required medical center safety programs.

Incumbent establishes, writes, and maintains procedures and plans to effectively adhere to requirements of the medical center's Joint Commission, OSHA, VACO, VISN, AWE, and other reviewing bodies. Ensures accurate and complete documentation is maintained. Ensures requested engineering reports and correspondence are accurate, properly formatted, and completed within required timeframes with minimal revision or rework.

Incumbent provides Maintenance and Operations Foremen, Chief Engineers, and other management staff with professional advice, assistance, and direction to properly operate maintenance systems under their responsibility. Provides recommendations to improve systems and equipment, including suggestions for improvements, cost savings, and increased efficiency.

Directs, reviews, and analyzes work plans of subordinates. Selects workers and assigns tasks to be performed in a wide range of locations throughout the facility, ensuring compliance with all industry and facility guidelines. Explains work requirements, methods, and procedures; instructs subordinates on new procedures; and provides advice when problems arise.

Reviews work in progress and upon completion. Adjusts work plans, schedules, assignments, and methods to accomplish work effectively and economically. Determines equipment, supplies, and materials required to complete assignments and ensures delivery of supplies and equipment as needed.

Works with leadership to establish a balanced annual maintenance/operations plan covering all equipment for the Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Section. Responds to emergency maintenance needs in a timely and appropriate manner and keeps internal supervisors and stakeholders informed of unusual or emergent situations.

Assigns and reviews work for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Shop. Establishes performance standards and conducts formal and informal appraisals of subordinates. Participates in reviewing job descriptions for accuracy and currency and recommends necessary changes.

Maintains knowledge of and stays current with industry standards and changes in VA guidelines. Provides advice or instruction to subordinates on work and administrative matters and resolves problems and employee complaints through discussion. Reports more serious corrective issues with recommended solutions to the supervisor.

Serves as a management representative at hearings, meetings, and negotiations related to labor relations. Promotes management programs and policies, including cost reduction, incentive awards, safety, and EEO. Identifies employee training needs and initiates requests for necessary training. Schedules and approves leave.

Maintains production reports and records. Assures all safety practices are observed in work operations. Recommends work method improvements and restructuring of positions to achieve optimum efficiencies.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic Supervisor (HVAC Supervisor)/PD253160
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 07/14/2026.

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: Minimum 5 years of experience in HVAC field; Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience; Possess an EPA approved, Section 608 Technician Certification.

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:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment

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: Occasionally lifts heavy loads, machinery parts, and similar items. Must be able to climb and descend ladders and scaffolds. The incumbent is subject to all hazards inherent in the physical plant and grounds environment-for example, burns, cuts, bruises, sprains, falls, high heat, high humidity, and related conditions.

Working Conditions: May work from ladders, scaffolding, and/or hydraulic platforms. Requires working in uncontrolled environments, in inclement weather conditions, and in confined or uncomfortable spaces. Many worksites are hot, dirty, dusty, greasy, poorly lit, cramped, and may contain unpleasant odors. May be subject to potentially dangerous working conditions including exposure to hazards normally encountered in the Medical Center, trade-related work, various types of infections, electrical shock, electrical burns, cuts, bruises, and strains. The incumbent must wear appropriate and required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to accomplish assigned tasks safely.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

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

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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