Summary The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic, is located within the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) shop of the Maintenance and Operations section of the Facility Management Service within the Jackson VA Medical Center. The purpose of this position is to provide critical HVAC support, service, and repair for the Veterans, visitors, and staff within the Medical Center. Responsibilities The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic executes a full range of facilities management activities to include: Performs preventive maintenance on a variety of equipment, including refrigeration equipment, air compressors, evaporators, belt driven exhaust fans, ice makers, cooling towers, and pumps. Cleans and inspects units for proper operation, replaces worn/damaged belts and filters, and repairs leaks. Lubricates moving parts and drains and replaces oil. Change filters and cleans coil surfaces on a wide variety of heating and cooling equipment. Performs maintenance and repair to several hundred stand-alone expansion units, ice makers, drinking fountains, walk-in refrigerators and freezers. Replaces pump motors and pumps on air handling units. Evacuates, brazes, and recharges systems using proper trade guidelines. Uses various tools and equipment such as screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, grease guns, and compressed air blowers. Utilizes and maintains Siemans Controls and Temp Trak systems. Handles refrigerant in accordance with federal EPA regulations. Works from ladders, scaffolding and hydraulic platforms. Uses best trade practices in recovering refrigerant and leak testing. Disassembles and cleans HVAC units. Repairs or replaces electrical and mechanical components Assists journeyman mechanics in the execution of their duties. Follows electrical diagrams to connect wires to switches, relays, and thermostats. Follows preventive maintenance schedules. Interprets schedules, wiring diagrams, and equipment manuals. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD84379A Physical Requirements: The employee must physically exert themselves by working in confined spaces, lift, bend, stoop, and crawl. The applicant must be able to apply physical effort for a full eight hour day. The employee must have the ability to hold arms, tools, equipment, and perform tasks over their head for short durations of time, using muscular effort. Additionally, They must be able to climb ladders and work in ceilings and at other heights at the ceiling level. Potential hazards are associated with the performance of duties. The position entails working in close places, such as overheads above the ceiling, in fan rooms and refrigerated rooms (at times below zero degrees or above 100 degrees F). The employee is potentially exposed to falls, muscle strains, scratches, cuts, bruises, potential gases, extreme temperatures, hazardous chemicals, CFCXs with the possibility of burns, electrical shocks, or broken bones. The employee is required to follow all safety procedures and guidelines to prevent injuries. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Preferred Experience: The Facility Management Service prefers the applicant to hold a current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for HVAC technicians. 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: 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. 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.
