Summary
The primary purpose of the position is to operate and maintain the machinery that provides power for heating, cooling, and ventilation in the VA Medical Center. Starts and stops equipment and monitors meters and safety controls. Ensures that the systems operate safely and economically by regularly inspecting meters, gauges, values, and instruments. Often uses hand or power tools to make minor repairs to machinery. May operate computerized controls to regulate the systems.
Duties
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Ability to troubleshoot complete systems using various testing techniques and test equipment.
- Feed water pumps, fuel oil feed pumps, fuel oil transfer pumps, feedwater pumps, condensate make up/feed transfer pumps, values, regulating valves, reducing stations, unit heaters, air compressor systems, all piping, condensate return tank, blow down tank, deaerator tank, blowdown control equipment and pollution control equipment.
- Responsible for testing and treatment of boiler water, condensate return water, water softeners, also maintaining the chemical injection system.
- Maintains proper chemistry of the boiler water, and steam condensate, through daily testing and adjusts automated chemical injection metering pumps and blowdown rates as required.
- Logs all necessary readings on all equipment in operation and enters daily report on readings recorded.
- Monitors parameters to ensure a proper and comfortable environment for staff and patient care throughout the campus.
- Operation of the Johnson METASYS Computer System which controls heat, ventilation, air conditioning (H.V.A.C.) throughout various locations.
- Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Hours vary.
Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Operator/PD03232-A
Physical Requirements: This position requires walking, standing, bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling moderately heavy loads daily and occasionally heavy loads. Incumbent must be in good physical condition, have good eyesight with or without glasses and cannot be colorblind. There can be a great deal of physical effort involved with this position as the equipment is large and must be maneuvered into and out of specific locations while dismantling and reassembling. The incumbent frequently carries and sets up parts and equipment that could weight up to 100 pounds. The incumbent makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places, therefore, stooping, bending, and kneeling maybe required for long periods of time. He/she needs to be familiar with lifting dynamics and heavy object handling and must pass an annual physical for plant operators.
Working Conditions: The USO is exposed frequently to temperature extremes, drafts, dampness, water and noise for work conditions. The majority of work takes place in an industrial environment but does typically require work outdoors, exposed to the elements. They will frequently encounter ladders, catwalks, confined spaces, etc. Occasionally subject to cuts, electrical shocks, abnormal heat, hazard of boiler burst, steam blowbacks, scalding water burns, toxic amounts of gas and hazardous/toxic chemicals that can be harmful to skin and clothing.
Required Documents
Documents Accepted:
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (VA)
- Other (1)
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-15
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
Documents Required:
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.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/10/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12704377.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.