Clarification from the agency

Status applicants (VEOA, VRA, Schedule A, etc.)

Videos

*Please read this section in it's entirety*

PERFORMANCE OF MAJOR DUTIES:

• The incumbent of this position performs operator and repairer duties on a rotating shift basis.
• The operators work a total of 10 days per pay period, that's 21 to23 days a month. When fully staffed there are 2 operators working together for 4 days on day shift only. Swing and graveyard shift they work alone.
• The operator in charge works a rotating shift of swing shift, and graveyard shift. The Operator in Charge will work alone, exercising complete responsibility as when working the evening, night, or weekend shifts.
• The incumbent will have Operator in Charge duties 75% of the time.
• These plants provide 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a week, and year- round production of steam in a plant with a capacity of 46,750 pounds per hour, and for the generation of chilled water in a plant with the capacity of 1350 tons of refrigeration.
• As Operator-In-Charge (OIC), the incumbent must have a higher level of skill and knowledge of the entire utility system and user requirements to locate problems and initiate corrective actions.
• The OIC has the responsibility to decide whether to shut down operations or attempt to bypass problems is start additional equipment until corrective action has been completed.
• The OIC is the Facility Manager's representative during off hours and has the responsibility to determine what work must be completed and has the authority to approve overtime or call-in contractor support.
• The incumbent is responsible for relaying instructions to the next shift OIC including problems encountered and actions taken.

DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Operating and repairing of two 500 h.p. and one 350 h.p. Nebraska "D" type water tube multi-fuel gas/oil-fired high-pressure boilers which are capable of producing 46,750 lbs./hr. steam each at 125 P.S.I.
• Operating and repairing all equipment relevant to the operation of these boilers. This includes 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, emergencies repair of air compressor systems, all piping, condensate return tank, blow down tank, D.A. tank, and pollution control equipment.
• Operating and repairing the central air conditioning plant, equipment consisting of 1350 tons of electrically generated air conditioning capacity; including the operation and repair of all equipment related to the air conditioning plant such as 3- 450-ton Trane Compressor Centrifugal chillers using R134A refrigerant, two Baltimore Air coil Series 3000 Industrial Cooling Towers, pumps, and motors up to 25 Horsepower (chilled water, condenser water, refrigerant, etc.), chemical injection system, and all electrical and pneumatic controls.
• Maintaining a pre-established chemical level in both chilled and condenser water, to maintain equipment and remove possibly fatal bacterial from the system. This will involve correct handling of hazardous/toxic chemicals.
• Logging all hourly reading on all equipment and calculates the air conditioning plant efficiencies.
• Operating the Johnson METASYS Computer System which controls heat, ventilation, air conditioning (H.V.A.C.) throughout various locations of this station. The Utility System Operator has the primary responsibility for the METASYS computer system and is responsible for all alarms occurring on his/her shift.
• Monitoring the fire alarm panel, phone, police radio, elevator alarms, medical gas alarms, emergency generators, all plant logs, and responsible for calculation of the VA Medical Center emergency needs during the shift and running procedures for emergency call back and emergency preparedness plans.
• Logging all critical failures and temperatures and notifies appropriate, personnel of any action taken due to unusual circumstances.
• Performing all minor and most major repairs, preventative maintenance, as well as all routine safety checks on all equipment located in both the Boiler and Air Conditioning Plants.
• Relaying vital information to Reno City Fire Department and hospital police, sounding station disaster, and all clear alarms.
• May be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: As described above
Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Operator/PD02329A
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not 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
• You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period
• 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 dentification 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)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/22/2025.

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 (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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:

Physical Effort:
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. 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:
Most of the work is done inside, but the incumbent is frequently subject to sudden temperature changes when working on equipment. 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.

• Normal Operations:
  • Steel Toed Shoes, Leather Gloves, Safety Glasses, Flame Retardant Uniforms and Hearing Protection.
• Daily activities-Chemical testing and treatment of Boiler Water, Steam, Condensate, Chilled Water and Condenser Water:
  • Face Shield/Safety Goggles, Rubber Gloves, Rubber Apron for daily chemical testing.
• Periodic Activities:
  • Tyvek suites or Rain Gear, Respirator for cleaning Boilers.
  • Tyvek suites or Rain Gear, Respirator for cleaning Chillers and Cooling Towers.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration- eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on Veterans' Preference.

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.