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Utilities Systems Repairer-Operator

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VA St. Louis Health Care System - Jefferson Barracks Division and John Cochran Division

Summary

This position serves as a Utility System Repairer-Operator located at the VA St. Louis Health Care System (VASTLHCS) under the supervision of the Energy Plant Operations Supervisor and assigned to the Energy Plant of the Facilities Engineering Services (FES). The Energy Center consists of 6 chillers, water pumps, and piping systems, roof top package units, building pressure controls, refrigeration, mini-split HVAC systems, split HVAC systems, air handlers, and whole building exhaust systems.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/09/2026 to 01/22/2026
Salary
$33.87 to - $39.53 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 10
Locations
5 vacancies in the following locations:
Jefferson Barracks, MO
Saint Louis, MO
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSS-12862287-26-AES
Control number
854095400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to the following: Internal Applicants: Applicants located at the facility. Status Applicants: U.S. Citizens with qualifying eligibilities. Federal Applicants: Current-Permanent Federal Employees, and those covered by the interchange agreement. VA Nationwide Applicants: Applicants employed by VA (VHA, VBA, NCA), but not located at the facility. Eligibility Info: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/ Proper documentation is required.

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Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Energy Plant
    • Responsible for Boiler Plant automation and BAS that integrates and uses special computers to store operating parameters and initiates adjustments when systems become out of range or in alarm conditions.
    • Responsible for repairing, operating, and maintaining three 1000 hp at 35,000 lbs/hr boilers; one 350 hp boiler and two 600 hp boilers operating on dual fuel (natural gas or oil) fired boilers.
  • Chillers and HVAC/R
    • Responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of Building Automation Systems (BAS) and all types and brands of temperature, humidity, and all volumetric controls, both individually and in any combination.
    • Diagnoses, troubleshoots, modifies, repairs, replaces, and installs critical and special purpose HVAC/R equipment and systems that provide specific and critical climatic conditions throughout the entire Medical Center.
  • Engineering Response Coordination
    • Communicates with Medical Center administration and determines and coordinates the proper engineering response.
    • Correcting issues themselves including work performed by air conditioning equipment operators (through BAS), electronic industrial controls mechanics (for controls sequencing at component controllers), air conditioning equipment mechanics (at air handler units via variable frequency drives and at terminal units), electricians (resetting of tripped breakers) and pipefitting/plumbing (repair of systems that are non-operational).
  • Administrative Duties
    • Calculates, tracks, documents, and creates reports for all energy consumptions and utilities for the entire campus and records the data.
    • Drafts Interim Safety Measures (ISMs) for critical power boilers and auxiliary boiler equipment, ensuring the continued safe and efficient operations of the Boiler Plant to prevent the shutdown of the Medical Center.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: This position is for WG-10. There is no promotion potential for this position.


Work Schedule: Full-Time, Permanent - 12-hour Rotating shift
Position Description Title/PD#: Utilities Systems Repairer-Operator/PD09775A
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Duty Station: Jefferson Barracks Division or John Cochran Division; however, the duty station may be changed to one of multiple locations within the VA St. Louis Health Care System based on the needs of the facility.

Requirements

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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 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 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, 01/22/2026.

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.

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
  • Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
  • Materials
  • Shop Practices
  • Technical Practices
  • Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Use of Measuring Instruments


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: Subjected to sustained physical effort in the operation of power boilers, chillers, HVAC/R equipment, steam distribution systems, chilled water distribution systems; physical requirements may include working from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms where parts of the system are in hard-to-reach places. Work is carried out in tiring positions such as standing, crouching, stooping, kneeling, and prone for long periods of time. Occasionally, the incumbent will be required to lift items in the excess of 50 pounds and 100 pounds with assistance. The incumbent frequently lifts, carries, and sets up parts and equipment that weighs up to 50 pounds. Subject to hazards of refrigerants, fumes, boiler bursts, steam blow back, flame blow backs, scalding water, burns and electrical shock. Exposed frequently to temperature extremes, high noise levels, drafts, dampness, water, and noise for work conditions. Most of the work takes place in an industrial environment but does require work outdoors, exposed to the elements. Incumbent will frequently encounter ladders, catwalks, confined spaces, etc., and is subjected to hazards normally encountered in the trade and may be exposed to asbestos.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

  1. Current federal employee displaced from the Veterans Health Administration (CTAP/ICTAP)
  2. Internal Applicants: Applicants located at the facility.
  3. Federal Applicants: Current-Permanent Federal Employees.
  4. Status Applicants: U.S. Citizens with qualifying eligibilities.

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.

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