Duties

Summary

Responsible for the air conditioning plant operation and maintenance at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salem, Virginia which include making major and minor repairs, modifying chiller programming, performing preventative maintenance, and acting as a first responder to emergency situations and repairs.

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Responsibilities

Operates the chiller plant consisting of 3, 1200 ton centrifugal chillers, performs extensive control work such as checking, adjusting, relocating, installing, and modifying pneumatic, electric, and electronic control systems which requires some degree of design in order to meet the requirements of particular installations.

Reads and interprets work orders, specifications, technical literature and blueprints for installations, modifications and trouble shooting in order to determine the best methods to accomplish the work with a minimum of instructions concerning the work methods or materials to be used.
Maintains, installs, hooks up, troubleshoots, and puts into operation all types of refrigeration, air conditioning equipment along with electric and pneumatic controls for offices, conference rooms, pharmacy, labs, test areas, X-ray rooms, operating rooms, computer rooms, walk-in coolers and chiller plant. Operator is responsible for maintenance and repair of the A/C Equipment in the Chiller Plant which hosts many exceptional differences from normal plant configurations to include 4160volt centrifugal compressors, multiple chilled water loops and pump configurations. The Plant consists of 3 ea 1200 ton, 4160 volt Trane centrifugal chillers, Three Two Cell 1200 ton Baltimore Cooling towers, six 75 hp condenser water pumps, six 40 to 150hp Chilled water pumps and Three 125 hp Variable Speed plant Pumps which push the Chilled water out of the Plant to serve 17 Campus buildings with industrial size chilled water systems. Most of the buildings served are greater than 40 years in age with the oldest ones built in 1933. The 17 buildings mentioned have two secondary pumps each to circulate the chilled water and many tertiary and zone pumps for each building. These additional pumps total over 63 with varying horse powers from 1/2hp to 30hp.
Maintains, installs, troubleshoots, re-designs, modifies, and repairs many different manufacturers' types of "DX" systems along with chilled water systems such as low and high velocity air handling units, variable air volume systems, packaged NC systems, mini split systems, chilled water coils, reheat and preheat type coils, steam, water and infrared humidifiers, compressors, motors, dampers, motor actuators, air diffusers along with pneumatic and electric control systems.
Locates, identifies, trouble shoots, and make repairs or modifications to the design of all pumps and peripheral components of the chilled water, hot water and steam piping systems, often with little or no supervision. The Operator in his duties outside of the Chiller Plant adjust, modify and control on a regular and recurring basis Pressure Reducing Valves in the control of Heating hot water and Domestic Hot water. Incumbent will air balance systems to specifications and design or alter to maintain close tolerance for air flow, temperature, humidity and cleanliness of conditioned areas mentioned above.
Operator's responsibility includes operating and maintaining all the aforementioned items at maximum obtainable efficiency.
Performs duties while working shift responsibility which could include after normal duty hours, nights, and weekends where the work is usually unsupervised and make critical decisions sometimes based on written contingency plans and approval from designated staff such as the Administrative Officer of the Day. Responsibility to ascertain when an emergency does exist and take a safe and appropriate action based on established guidelines and contingency plans.
Responsible to decide whether to shut down an air conditioning systems and, if so, whether equipment still in operation can handle the load or whether to attempt to bypass the trouble until corrective action has been completed. Adds and removes multiple chillers based on medical center demands and needs and/or when an observed potential problem arises. Operator has the responsibility to determine and have the authority to call in necessary maintenance personnel for emergency repairs that he or she cannot accomplish. Responsible for relaying instructions to the next shift operator including problems encountered and action taken. Subject to call back for emergency repairs of equipment.
Required to have an EPA approved Universal Refrigerant Handling certificate or card.
Responds to and make repairs to: clogged toilets, hot and cold calls, various leaks, electrical outages, broken locks, windows, doors, biomedical equipment such as heart monitors, call bells, patient beds, medical gas and vacuum equipment, robotic delivery systems, and televisions. Makes unsupervised decisions as to the quality of environments throughout the hospital for safe and efficient operations as it may affect the patients, visitors and staff.

Work Schedule: 745AM-430PM Monday-Friday
Position Description Title/PD#:
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/20/2019.

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:

• Decision Making
• Dexterity and Safety
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Industrial Equipment Operation
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Measuring Instruments
• Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Physical Strength and Agility
• Technical Practices
• Without more than normal supervision

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:
Incumbent exerts considerable physical effort by walking, climbing stairs, and ladders. Carries objects of varying weights, sizes, and shapes. Incumbent must have good eyesight with or without corrective lenses and cannot be color blind.

Exposed to temperate extremes, drafts, and to stand, kneel and/or bend while working in dampness and water. Exposed to noise, vibration, gases, fumes, dust, grease, and soiling of cl
Incumbent exerts considerable physical effort by walking, climbing stairs, and ladders. Carries objects of varying weights, sizes, and shapes. Incumbent must have good eyesight with or without corrective lenses and cannot be color blind.

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. 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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .

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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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.

Financial disclosure not required.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

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.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .