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Duties will include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Routinely collects water samples, testing to ensure proper chemical balance and adds chemicals as necessary to the cooling towers, hydronic heating systems, chilled water loops and boilers.
• Troubleshoots the chemical injection systems in the even of detecting improper dosages of chemicals, per given quantity of medium to be treated.
• Keeps comprehensive logs to track types and amounts of chemical expended, test results, observations and other pertinent information.
• Performs Journeyman level boiler maintenance repairs. Inspects, troubleshoots and repairs electric motors, chilled water pumps and shutoff or isolation valves. Repairs leaks to piping by re-torquing fittings or bolting on new components.
• Monitors Building Automation System control points to check operation of and troubleshoot defective fans, motors, air handlers, compressors, pumps, etc.
• Repairs or replaces belts, motors, damper actuators, or control valves.
• Cleans equipment, replaces air filters and cleans air handler chilled water strainers. Adjusts, repairs, replaces, and cleans thermostats and sensors of HVAC and refrigeration systems.
• Conducts active monitoring of the early start-up and shutdown of automatic guided vehicles (GAV) and performs system reports to ensure food and sterile processing supply deliveries are on time.
• Checks fire alarm panel during alarm events.
• Troubleshoots and repairs system faults, automatic doors, tube system faults, trash systems, etc.
• Performs repairs to windows and doors and associate closer hardware; repairs roofs, expansion joints, or tuck pointing to minimum water intrusion.
• Repairs leaks in pressurized potable water piping and sanitary drain piping by re-torquing loose fittings or replacing components. Replaces packing on leading shutoff and isolation valves; unplugs toilets, sinks, drinking fountains, bedpan hoppers, etc.
• Checks operation of pumps; water, medical gases, building air, vacuum and sanitary sewage systems and perform repairs.
• Performs electrical safety inspections on patient beds and miscellaneous appliances; changes and replaces lamps and light ballasts; resets circuit breakers and replaces fuses.
• Monitors operation of emergency generations during power outages.
• Provides backup service for Fire Department on emergency calls. Provides mechanical and electrical assistance; provides crucial building and system information for rapid and safe response from outside agencies during emergencies.

WORK SCHEDULE: Full-Time, Rotating Shifts to include days, nights, weekends and holidays to provide 24-hours continuous shift coverage.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

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
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• 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)

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

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS: Prolonged physical effort is not routine. Occasionally lifts objects over 50 pounds and lifting equipment is provided for heavier objects. Some standing, stooping, bending, crawling, and working on ladders (occasionally operating equipment) is required.

Most work is performed indoors with adequate light and ventilation. Occasionally work is performed in areas of confined space. While working in the central boiler and chiller plant, exposure to temperatures in excess of 100ºF is common. Workers are also exposed to extreme temperature changes while working on outdoor cooling towers, roof exhausts and ventilating fans. Employee is subject to rotating machinery, grease, dirt, chemicals, oils and fumes. Noise level is often high, and hearing protection is often required to prevent hearing loss. Other protective gears such as goggles, gloves and rubber aprons are required when working with chemicals or performing various other tasks. Employee works a regular, rotating shift, to include nights, weekends and holidays to provide 24-hours continuous shift coverage.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

SCREEN-OUT: Requires the ability to perform the work of a Utility Systems Repairer-Operator without more than normal supervision. Related experience includes working in a Commercial/Industrial environment applying the technical and mechanical techniques and procedures to repair, replace, troubleshoot and diagnose, and inspect major building utility categories of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, pipefitting, electrical, chemical water treatment, boilers and chillers, and automatic transport systems; reading, interpreting and using blueprints and schematics to the various trades above; maintaining and using a wide variety of hand tools, power tools, and test equipment common to the above trades; and maintaining maintenance logs. (Resume(s) must clearly support experience, including type of environment, as described above to be creditable). (NOTE: Experience in a residential setting (i.e., personal home, apartments, etc.) is not typically qualifying for this position. Experience in a hospital/healthcare setting is preferred)

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.

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. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category.

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.