Summary You will serve as an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Helper for the Facilities Management Service located in Seattle, Washington. You will perform a variety of straightforward work in installing and identifying the causes of faulty refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, and repairing the equipment. Responsibilities You will identify the causes of faulty equipment and makes repairs on a variety of domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning units and systems such as walk-in and reach-in coolers, refrigerators, ice cream cabinets, deep freezers, evaporative coolers, attic and evaporative fans, and other equipment of comparable complexity. You will conduct tests of air conditioning units and makes straightforward repairs that can be made without specialized equipment. You will make visual, audible and mechanical checks for the proper temperature of conditioned spaces; the proper operation of different parts of the refrigeration cycle; proper oil levels; unusual noises; overheated bearings; loose connections; faulty insulation; frayed or loose belts, gaskets and pulleys; and other similar defects. Other duties may be assigned. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 07:30 am- 4:00 pm. Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD41361A Physical Requirements: The work requires carrying of equipment, tools and testing devices that seldom weigh over 50 pounds. Most of the equipment can be reached from the floor or from ladders. Occasionally, platforms and scaffolding are needed to reach parts of the systems such as fans, electrical and water lines and duct work. The incumbent is required to stoop, stretch, bend, kneel and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions; and make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT: Section 608 Technician Certification EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require that technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified. Starting on January 1, 2018, this requirement will also apply to appliances containing most substitute refrigerants, including HFCs. In order to qualify, applicants for this position must possess EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Type 4 (Universal). 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. The screen-out element is: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. Examples are: experience with refrigeration cycle, temperature measurement, the properties of several refrigerants, and the knowledge of the construction and operation of a variety of domestic units and systems in order to identify malfunctions and make minor refrigeration system tests and adjustments; refrigeration cycle of a variety of systems to make visual, audible and mechanical checks of air conditioning systems operations; skill to service power sources by tightening connections, making splices, insulating exposed wires, and cleaning and lubricating moving parts; testing units and systems for proper operation; and replacing items such as belts, fans, and fuses; ability to replace major portions of various cooling units, such as compressors, condensers, expansion valves, float and service valves, thermostats, coils, and drive assemblies. 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 Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Troubleshooting Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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. Working Conditions: Most of the work is usually performed inside, but the incumbent is frequently subject to sudden temperature changes when working on equipment such as walk-in freezer units. Employee is occasionally subject to cuts burns, electrical shocks, and respiratory ailments; exposed to repeated, prolonged or concentrated amounts of refrigerant gases that may cause toxic effects on eyes, skin, and internal organs. Education Additional Information 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. 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.
