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Assigned to the Energy Plant which is located in the Engineering Service at the Charles Norwood VAMC in Augusta GA. Serves as a journeyman Air Conditioning Equipment Operator performing tasks involved in the operation and maintenance of heating and cooling plant equipment serving a large medical center.
06/10/2025 to 09/30/2025
$28.80 - $33.59 per hour
WG 10
4 vacancies in the following location:
No
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Competitive
None
No
No
CBTB-12747311-25-BDL
838482300
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 20, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.
Major Duties
- Operates and does minor repairs on three gas/oil fired steam boilers, three boiler feedwater pumps, two condensate transfer pumps and associated equipment. Operates and does minor repairs on centrifugal water chillers, induced draft cooling towers, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, and associated equipment. Starts, stops and regulates the chillers, boilers, and associated equipment as load demands.
- Operates and makes repairs and adjustments on the medical center's centralized energy management system computer and field components. The computer system controls all functions of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and smoke control systems.
- Hourly records readings from instruments located on and/or adjacent to boilers and chillers. Some readings are used in the computation of make-up water, tonnage and steam flow; others used to recognize potential or current equipment problems.
- When he/she is assigned to the cooling plant, with two operators on duty, incumbent will respond to station trouble calls. Evaluates the problem and repair if ability and allotted time permits. If unable to repair, places telephone calls to appropriate trade mechanic and/or management officials.
- Daily analyzes and records results of tests on water samples and chemically treats boiler, chilled, and condenser water systems to maintain proper treatment levels.
- Performs routine scheduled preventative maintenance and maintains records of scheduled operations. The incumbent assists mechanics in the major repair of equipment or in the off-season overhaul or maintenance of equipment.
- Make repairs, such as replacing mechanical seals, bearings, valves, pipe fittings, and motors. Repairing insulation, repacking valves and piping is also required.
- Monitors and communicates with appropriate persons per medical center policy concerning station fire alarms, disaster notification and medical gas alarm systems.
- Performs monthly and annual boiler safety device testing as required by VHA Directive 2003-050. Testing procedures are in accordance with VHA Boiler Plant Safety Devices Testing Manual. These procedures require knowledge above are beyond normal plant operating practices.
- Performs other duties as assigned as they relate to the overall mission of the service and the work of the station.
Work Schedule: Rotating and/or permanent 12 or 8 hour shift work is required.
Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Operator/PD09969A and PD09969A
Physical Requirements: Regular walking tours of the plant to conduct inspections of equipment which include some lifting, kneeling, standing, climbing and stooping. Repairs occasionally require working in awkward and cramped positions and lifting up to 50 pounds.
Working Conditions: Most work is done inside with occasional exposure to extreme outside temperature, chemicals used in water treatment, steam in excess of 300 degrees Fahrenheit and loud noise. Required to wear protective clothing or gear, such as rubber aprons, hard-toed boots, hearing protection, safety goggles, gloves or face shields, are required.
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
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.
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.
Documents Accepted:
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
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 09/30/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12747311.
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.
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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.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications 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. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
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.
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This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/838482300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.