Summary This position is located within the Office of the Engineering Service at Mann-Grandstaff VAMC in Spokane, WA. The office provides engineering, operational, and maintenance support for the hospital. The position reports directly to the Boiler Plant Supervisor. Responsibilities Boiler Operations and Emissions Compliance Operates four dual-fuel, high-pressure boilers to ensure efficient steam production and compliance with State and Federal air pollution standards, including SO2 and NOx limits. Uses electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls, along with meters, gauges, and data systems, to monitor and adjust combustion, fuel feed, draft, and firebox parameters for varying loads and fuel quality. Monitoring, Logging, and Performance Calculations Records all necessary operational data in logs, journals, and records, including hourly readings of temperatures, pressures, voltage/current measurements, vacuum levels, and other specified parameters. Conducts routine calculations of efficiency, averages, energy and water consumption, and steam production. Maintains accurate machinery history records for traceability and audit purposes. Water Chemistry Testing and Treatment Performs precise chemical analysis of boiler water, soft water, municipal water, and condensate returns in accordance with established directives and procedures. Independently determine and apply appropriate chemical dosages to maintain specified levels of alkalinity, acidity, dissolved solids, oxygen, and scale or algae control. Maintains proper purification through internal, external, and mechanical treatment methods to safeguard equipment and uphold steam quality. Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repairs Performs scheduled and corrective maintenance and repairs on boilers and associated systems and components, including feedwater and condensate pumps, deaerators, burners, combustion controls, sensors, control valves, heat exchangers, pressure regulators and reducers, recorders, alarms, fuel oil pumps, lubricating oil pumps, strainers, and related distribution equipment. Conducts cleaning and maintenance of fireboxes, drums, tubes, stacks, and breechings, both internally and externally. Replace belts, clean strainers, nozzles, and jets, repack glands, and perform necessary repairs to distribution systems. Ensure proper housekeeping and maintenance of the utility plant and equipment. Work Schedule: Shift Work, 12:00am -12:00pm or 12:00pm - 12:00am, compressed tour, Non rotating Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD70765-0 Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate to strenuous physical activity, including long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching. Operators frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds independently and occasionally handling items exceeding 40 pounds with assistance of other operators or appropriate lifting equipment. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Designated and/or random drug testing may be required May serve a probationary period Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc. 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. 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 within 30 days 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: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Measuring Instruments Operation of Equipment/Machinery 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 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 (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.
