This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Mid- Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Richmond VA Medical Center, organizationally aligned within Facilities Management Service, Utility Systems Section, located in Richmond, Virginia. Serves as the leader for the Utility Systems Section, exercising technical and administrative guidance to HVAC workers.
Summary
This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Mid- Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Richmond VA Medical Center, organizationally aligned within Facilities Management Service, Utility Systems Section, located in Richmond, Virginia. Serves as the leader for the Utility Systems Section, exercising technical and administrative guidance to HVAC workers.
The work for this level Air Conditioning (A/C) Equipment Mechanic Leader involves installing, recognizing the cause of faulty equipment, and repairing, modifying and relocating equipment on various special-purpose air conditioning units and systems that are frequently modified to provide specific and critical climatic conditions in operating rooms, intensive care units, blood labs, sterile processing areas, radiology, nuclear medicine, refrigerated food spaces, laboratories (to include research wet labs, animal research, and direct clinical patient research) and other experimental or test activities and serving as a working leader over a number of employees performing as Air Conditioning Equipment/Sheet Metal Mechanic.
The A/C Equipment Mechanic Leader in the absence of the Utility Systems/Boiler Plant Leader and Supervisor, or upon assignment, is responsible for performance, coordination and verification of all functional checks and performance verification on the entirety of the boiler plant and facilities equipment throughout the approximately 2 million square foot hospital including patient care, administrative areas and interstitial space.
These systems are critical to the hospital's mission and provide support to direct patient care services including the facility's temperature management system (Temp Trak) that monitors temperature and humidity in surgical suites and procedural rooms as well as refrigerators with critical stock of blood and pharmaceuticals necessary for patient usage, supply of medical gases (air, oxygen and vacuum) to patient care areas, supply of steam to sterilizers to support sterilization of instruments for surgical procedures and air handlers that maintain the air exchanges as well as temperature and humidity appropriately to ensure safety of patients and staff, compliance with applicable regulatory bodies and mitigate risk for the potential of hospital borne diseases (maintain negative pressure etc.).
Incumbent also supports lab equipment and the data center operating infrastructure that supports the Richmond VAMC and VISN-wide servers housed therein.
The incumbent is responsible for utilizing complex test equipment to accurately diagnose various mechanical, electrical and HVAC issues with facilities equipment and performing calibrations as necessary to application VA, national and international standards.
Passes on to other workers instructions received from the Supervisor, starts work by assigning the immediate tasks to individual members of the work group.
Ensures needed plans, material, blueprints and tools are available from multiple locations and/or computer programs.
Makes sure there is enough work to keep all employees busy.
Checks on work in progress, for compliance with procedures and regulations, and makes sure deadlines and schedules are met. Answers workers questions regarding procedures, policies, written instructions and demonstrates proper work methods.
Provides information to the supervisor on the progress of work, causes of delays and the overall status of work operation and problems.
Assures all tools and equipment are used properly and safety and housekeeping rules are adhered to.
Incumbent works along with other workers-to modify and balance various elements of systems that are designed to meet a wide variety of extreme and critical conditions.
These conditions require ability to react quickly to changing situations and prioritizing tasks to keep disruption to patient care to a minimum.
The incumbent is expected to be an expert in HVAC design, maintenance, electrical control and programming.
Incumbent works along with other workers to perform control work such as checking, adjusting, and modifying pneumatic, electric and electronic control systems necessary to maintain proper control which requires sound degree of systems design in order to meet the requirements of particular installations.
Incumbent works along with other workers to maintain, install, hook up, and put into operations all types of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and electronic and pneumatic controls for offices, conference rooms; laboratories, operating rooms, special exam rooms, etc.
Recognizes faulty equipment and is able to make necessary repairs, modifying and relocating equipment on various special purpose air conditioning and refrigeration systems that require close tolerance temperatures, humidification, and dehumidification.
While repairing the faulty equipment, the mechanic must be able to design, plan, coordinate, and fabricate and install the necessary repair items.
Position must be able to use scientific data measuring devices and use the data to make repairs and upgrades to critical building systems.
Work Schedule: Wednesday - Sunday 07:30 am - 4:00 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Leader/PD027730
U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
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.
Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
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
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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:
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. Daily duties consist of climbing, working in cramped positions and restricted places, and moving and lifting heavy objects and equipment in the repair and installation of A/C and refrigeration systems. Equipment in the areas of work is usually larger and must be maneuvered into and out of specific locations while dismantling and reassembling. Rigging devices, come-a-longs, hoists and pulleys are used in the removal of large compressors, coils, motors, air handlers and condensers. Incumbent in making repairs and installation works from ladders, scaffolding and platforms. Equipment is located in hard-to-reach places and frequently stooping, stretching, bending, and kneeling for long periods is required when making repairs.
Working Conditions. Work can be indoors; outside; on top of the tall high-rise buildings; in the interstitial spaces which have cramped areas and low overheads; and drafty attic spaces. Incumbent is subject to varying temperature changes such as in walk-in freezers and refrigerators. Incumbent is subject to dusty areas, cuts and bruises, electric shocks, falls from ladders or scaffolding, eye and hand injuries from power driven machines and hand tools, and to communicable diseases while working on nursing units and in laboratories. Incumbent may be subject to escaping gases when working with refrigerants. Refrigerant use happens on a recurring basis when making repairs and upgrades. Uncomfortable face masks and protective clothing may be worn when there is a possibility of exposure to toxic refrigerants which can happen on a recurring basis
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/02/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12917842.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.
Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. If initial application submission is updated and resubmitted with a new resume, only the most current resume will be reviewed for consideration.
Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:
Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
Use concise, results focused language
Align language from the job announcement
Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
Remove outdated or unrelated experience
Use the USAJOBS resume builder
Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at:
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
1201 Broad Rock Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23249
US
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/02/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12917842.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.
Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. If initial application submission is updated and resubmitted with a new resume, only the most current resume will be reviewed for consideration.
Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:
Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
Use concise, results focused language
Align language from the job announcement
Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
Remove outdated or unrelated experience
Use the USAJOBS resume builder
Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at:
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
1201 Broad Rock Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23249
US
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
