Summary Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic for the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) located within Engineering Service. The Industrial/Commercial Air Conditioning Mechanic is responsible for maintaining, repairing, modifying, testing, inspecting, analyzing for defects, troubleshooting and eliminating malfunctions on all the nonmedical heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerated equipment in the facility and is independently capable of accomplishing duties of the trade. Responsibilities The duties include but are not limited to the following: Installing, recognizing the cause of faulty equipment and making repairs on the complete systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering the air for the facility, refrigeration systems, therapeutic pool systems, exhaust fans, water treatment systems, solar panels and central plant systems including medical air and vacuum, shop and control air, steam supply, heat exchangers and economizers on the domestic water and building heat systems and all circulating pumps. Responsible for repairs and installation of the following: water chillers, dehydrators, heat exchangers, water softeners, ice machines, walk-in and reach-in refrigerators/ freezers, large and small fan units, all @types of air moving equipment, pneumatic systems, electric and electronic control systems, complex research-@type refrigerated equipment, drinking fountains and air conditioning distribution systems. Assist bio-medical technicians as needed by making repairs to the refrigerated portions of patient or laboratory equipment that is under the responsibility of the Biomedical Shop. Skill installing or replacing pipes and ducts where the areas to be conditioned are a considerable distance from the compressor. The system that incumbent installs, troubleshoots and repairs are used to condition the air for different kinds of structures and space functions and has special requirements and controls, independent of a different space. Such spaces are operating rooms, procedure rooms, isolation rooms, electronic data processing centers, laboratories and clean rooms, where humidity control and purity of air is critical for critical patient care or operation of sensitive equipment, patient rooms where comfortable conditions for patient satisfaction is critical, general office and classroom space, common spaces and warehouse space, with their descending needs for critical space temperature control. Perform scheduled preventative maintenance on assigned systems and equipment. Preventative maintenance on many systems and equipment is a Joint Commission- critical item, and timely and correct accomplishment and documentation is critical to the function and accreditation of South Texas Veterans Health Care System. Preventative Maintenance work must be accomplished within month the work order is issued. The use of precision instruments in accomplishing assigned duties, as well as general hand tools, torches and soldering/brazing equipment. Maintain adequate stock of commonly used repair parts to minimize down time of equipment and systems. Contact vendors and manufacturers to obtain part numbers, pricing and availability and prepares materials requests for needed parts. Determine if system is unreliable or unsafe to use and coordinate with affected users to have defective equipment or system remove from service until repaired and provide temporary alternatives if possible. Incumbent accomplishes other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD03462A Physical Requirements: Incumbent must wear appropriate safety gear, including full-face and half-face respirators when accomplishing work on certain equipment. This protective gear can place additional effort on employee in accomplishing work. Incumbent works from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, motorized high-lift, etc. as well as other hard to reach places. Incumbent stands, stoops, bends, kneels, crawls, climbs and works in tiring and uncomfortable positions for extended periods of time. Because the equipment in the air handling system is usually larger and must be maneuvered into and out of specific locations while dismantling and reassembling, the incumbent frequently lifts and carries tools, parts, equipment and material that weigh up to 50 pounds and less often up to 40 pounds. Grade 10 mechanics frequently carry and set up parts and equipment that weigh up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Hoists, holders, and pulleys are operated when removing units such as large compressors, condensers, and chillers. Incumbent make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places; therefore, stooping, stretching, bending, crawling and kneeling are frequently for long periods of time. Working Conditions: Incumbent is subject to be exposed to disagreeable fumes, work in oily or greasy areas, exposed to burns, cut, bruises, electrical shock and low environmental temperatures and possible exposure to live steam. They are occasionally required to work outside, on top of tall buildings, in hot or cold, cramped crawl spaces with low overheads. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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. 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. 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: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc. Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices Troubleshooting Certification Requirement: In addition to the screen out element this position requires a current unexpired Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Universal Certification. Applicants must upload an unexpired and current certification to be considered, applicants who do not meet this requirement are ineligible for further consideration. 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.
