Summary The Boiler Plant Operator uses manual and automatic controls to operate the Boiler Plant in the Operations Section of the Facilities Management Service at the American Lake Campus. The incumbent performs all duties required to maintain the safe and efficient operation of a high-pressure steam boiler plant and performs all preventive maintenance duties, adjustments, and corrective actions as required. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Operate and maintain boiler auxiliary equipment with manual and automatic controls to produce saturated steam with dual-fired boilers, burning natural gas or #2 diesel fuels. Lights off, operates, secures, and maintains power boilers, associated equipment, and pollution control equipment. Operates forced draft blowers, heat exchange, fuel oil pumps, fuel pressure controls valves, fuel oil strainers, relief and safety valves, water softeners, and other similar equipment. Regulates fuel and feed water levels, maintains required steam pressure, tests and treats boiler water and condensate returns to prescribed limits. Conducts preventive and corrective maintenance to all boiler plant equipment. Assist in preparation of boiler and deaerator inspections. Performs preventive and corrective maintenance to 14 independent gas fired hot water boilers. Tests all safety devices in accordance with VHA directives. Monitors 24 hour monitoring equipment in relation to medical refrigerators, underground storage tanks, emergency generator run panel, medical gases, fire alarms, and other BackNet capable devices, and provides notice to appropriate trades personnel for response to emergency situations. Perform other administrative duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 12 hours shifts, rotating every 4 months, 7:00am-7:00pm and 7:00pm-7:00am Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD40885A Physical Requirements: Boiler Plant Operators frequently work in a confined area in and around boilers. Requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching. Frequently lifts and carries boiler plant parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 50 pounds, unassisted. The incumbent may install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair equipment or components from ladders, platforms and scaffolding and in cramped or hard to reach areas. This can require walking long distances, prolonged standing, stooping, bending, and climbing in uncomfortable or tiring positions. Working Conditions: The working conditions vary with the environment, it is mainly indoors, but occasionally work outside for short periods of time. Member is subjected to high temperatures, constant noise, rotating equipment, soot, dirt, grease, chemicals and fumes. Burns related to acids, caustics, hot water, steam, and contact with boilers are possible. Incumbent works on catwalks and ladders. The incumbent may be assigned to work in areas where certain potentially harmful physical and/or chemical agents are present. To ensure employee safety and health, personnel protection programs are maintained. These programs may include engineering controls, training, work procedures, use of personal protective equipment, and medical surveillance. As part of the medical surveillance programs, the incumbent may be required to take medical examinations to assess his/her medical qualification for duty. The incumbent must be medically able to wear a respirator. 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. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) has been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF(s) are ineligible for further consideration. The SPF for this position is: ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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 the ability to do the work without more than normal supervision. Experience includes but is not limited to: Comprehensive knowledge of all operational phases of power boiler plant operations, (e.g. water treatment, fuel systems, steam generation, and pollution control). Skill in reading, recording, and analyzing information from gauges, meters, analog displays, and computer generated data to determine the operational status. Basic working knowledge of mechanical systems and devices sufficient to install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair various @types of equipment in operation at the facility. Ability to read, write and interpret technical information, wiring diagrams and manufacturers data to install, maintain, order, troubleshoot and repair equipment. 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: Dexterity and Safety Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Operation of Equipment/Machinery 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. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information 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. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. 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.
