Clarification from the agency

Open to Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Individuals with disabilities; Federal employees serving in the Competitive Service on Career or Career-Conditional appointment or the Excepted Service with Interchange Agreement; Permanent Title 38 employees employed full time; Former federal employees eligible for reinstatement; 30% Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Recruitment Appointment, Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, or based on completion of service in the Peace Corp; Military spouses

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The incumbent has the responsibility for a safe and continuous operation of the steam generation plant, with a capacity of up to 100,000 pounds of steam per hour. The incumbent will be required to complete the VA course on Boiler Plant Safety "Safe Steaming Keep it safe" within 18 months of being employed in the Boiler Plant position.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Uses electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls, and zone charts in conjunction with meters, gauges, and computer-generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.
• Monitors and tests the operation of high pressure steam boiler systems in order to identify malfunctions and potential problems with equipment such as automatic controls, valves, electrostatic precipitators, lime slurry systems, piping, pumps, and related components.
• Performs operational maintenance (e.g. lubricate equipment and power clean water tubes) and repairs of limited complexity on mechanical parts and systems and may be required to perform limited or basic electrical repairs.
• Uses the proper tools for boiler and associated equipment maintenance, including the instrumentation.
• Takes samples of the boiler feed water and test them for the proper level of chemical additives. Based upon the results of these tests, adjusts the level of the chemicals that are fed into the boiler water to achieve the proper operating levels.
• Performs preventative and scheduled maintenance on plant systems and equipment including boiler feed pumps, fuel oil pumps, air compressors, turbines, generators, boiler fixtures, and combustion fans.
• Installs, maintains, and repairs a variety of complex equipment and systems involving high pressure steam generating boilers with complicated components, critical requirements, and rigid tolerances.
• Provides comprehensive control and operational readiness of all high-pressure steam boilers supplying the main hospital and all outlying support structures.
• Operates and maintains high pressure boilers and their auxiliary equipment controls.
• Starts up any boiler, and bring it to the state where it can take its share of the load.
• Executes proper boiler blow down procedures and the proper soot blowing procedures.
• Operates medical center fire safety codes.
• Sets up fire watches till the alarm situation is rectified.
• Calls in vendors to perform corrective procedures to get buildings out of alarm status.
• Performs plumbing work involving maintenance and repair of a wide variety of piping, plumbing fixtures (lavatories, commodes, sink, disposals, bath tubs and shower fixtures).
• Makes electrical repairs by removing ad replacing defective parts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (First 90 days training) then permanent Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator / PD523-00308-A
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized
Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Notifications:

• This position is in the Competitive Service.
• Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is covered by a special rate.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA Boston Healthcare System campuses and CBOC's as needed.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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, 03/12/2026.

Skills and Knowledge Required by the Position:

The incumbent must have a journeyman's knowledge of the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers and their auxiliary equipment and controls. Specifically, they must be familiar with performing the following functions:

• Must be familiar with pneumatic and direct digital controls and their operation on equipment used in boiler controls.
• Must have knowledge of boiler construction and know the characteristics of all associated boiler equipment.
• Must know how to start up idle boilers and equipment so as to get them operational in emergency situations in a timely manner.
• Must know how to take samples of the boiler feed water and test them for the proper level of chemical additives.
• Must know how to adjust the level of the chemicals that are fed into the boiler water to achieve the proper operating levels based upon the results of these tests.
• Must know how to switch from operation on natural gas, the primary fuel, to fuel oil and back again.
• Must have knowledge of sounding fuel oil tanks, receiving deliveries of oil, and putting information in the log book.
• Must know the techniques for lining up fuel oil systems to take action from the fuel tanks, and the procedures for shifting fuel oil from one tank to another.
• Must have a working knowledge of plumbing, steam fitting and electricity.
• Must be intimately familiar with the proper lock out/tag out systems that are used on the boilers to isolate all the various energy sources while working on boiler and equipment maintenance.
• Must have the ability to interpret drawings, manuals and technical guides, and lay out work as necessary.
• Must have a journeyman's knowledge of the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers ad their auxiliary equipment and controls.
• Must be able to use the proper tools for boiler and associated equipment maintenance, including the instrumentation used to measure or rectify a situation to keep boilers and equipment operating in a safe and proper manner.
• Must be able to perform minor repairs and make adjustments to instruments so as to operate in a safe and efficient manner.
• Must be physically capable of lifting of up to 50 pounds is required as is the ability to walk and climb stairs as a great amount of the time required to conduct readings on equipment throughout all levels of the boiler plant.

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
• Dexterity and Safety
• Inspect
• Plan and organize work
• Shop Practices
• Troubleshooting

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:
The position requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending and crouching. The incumbent must work from ladders and catwalks, at times above 20 feet, and in cramped spaces. The incumbent must frequently lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds and may be required to handle heavier loads with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers.

The incumbent primarily works indoors but occasionally may work outside for short periods. He/she is exposed to dirty, greasy & dusty areas, is exposed to extreme temperatures of both hot and cold and is exposed to above average noise levels for prolonged periods. He/she is exposed to various hazards such as: electrical shock, bums and scalds from hot water and steam, curs, abrasions, bruises and falls. He/she may have to work in confined workspaces when maintaining or inspecting boilers and tanks. W one may be performed from catwalks and ladders.

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.

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.