Summary This position is located in the Durham VAMC Facilities Management Service. Incumbent is responsible for operating and maintaining Boiler Plant equipment and systems, HVAC equipment and systems, routine and preventative maintenance and repair to Utilities Support Systems. This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Please view the 'How You Will Be Evaluated' section below on how applicants will be qualified and referred. This vacancy may close before the posted closing date if a selection is made. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Operate, overhaul, install, maintain and repair all types of mechanical equipment and complete operational systems using knowledge in a wide range of thermodynamic principles and practices. Responsible for checking equipment throughout the boiler plant for any mechanical failures, diagnose equipment issues (mechanical, electrical or otherwise) with test equipment and provide repairs and calibrations for equipment. Monitoring alarms through a computer-based alarm system using the temperature monitoring system. Perform corrective and preventive maintenance necessary for the boiler plant and ensure appropriate documentation of all medical lab and facilities equipment that is under the purview of the facility utility management plan including medical chillers, laboratory medical air systems, fire pumps domestic water booster systems etc. Responsible for maintaining lab chillers, medical air vacuum systems, fire pumps, domestic water, booster systems and boilers with reheat systems. Performs other directly related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 12 hour shifts; rotates every two weeks Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Operator/PD07002A Physical Requirements: Must lift and carry heavy equipment needed in the maintenance and repair work of plant equipment. Works in cramped positions at times and must be continuously alert to the many hazardous conditions that prevail in the A/C and Boiler Plants to prevent unscheduled downtime and failures. Working Conditions: Position is required to work rotating shifts of twelve (12) hours. (The plant is to be manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.) Works in a confined area and cannot leave the assigned area during the entire tour of duty. S/he is subject to noise, heat, and many other hazardous conditions that prevail in the A/C and Boiler Plants. S/he must work on high scaffolds when replacing or repairing distribution piping or other equipment. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: Ability to do the work of a Utility Systems Operator WG-5406-9 without more than normal supervision 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: Dexterity and Safety Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Measuring Instruments Operation of Equipment/Machinery Technical Practices 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. Education Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this position, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.