Summary This position is located in the Boiler Plant, at the James E. Van Zandt Medical Center. The plant operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and contains three automatic gas and/or oil burning boilers with a total plant capacity of 41,400 pounds of steam per hour. The boilers are equipped with a central management SCADA system. Every operation of the boilers is stored into a Cleaver Brooks Hawk program. This program monitors and maintains parameters of pressures, temperatures, and safety devices. Responsibilities Duties Incumbent tests, adjusts, maintains, and repairs boiler safety devices such as flame safeguard systems, pressure switches, pressure differential switches, limit switches, timers, water column safety devices, electric/electronic probes and sensors, steam safety valves, and automatic and manual fuel valves for the purpose of preventing major pressure vessel failures and/or furnace explosions. The incumbent visually inspects boiler settings and refractory linings for signs of deterioration and failure due to heat stress resulting in flue gases escaping into the plant and endangering on-duty personnel. Through the use of manual, automatic, semi-automatic, microprocessor controls or systems; the incumbent monitors, adjusts and controls all phases of boiler plant operations. Incumbent uses electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls, charts, recorders, meters, gauges, and computer-generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements. Incumbent uses tools such as manometers, multi-meters, combustion analyzers, test gauges, infrared thermometer, and dead-weight gauge tester; to maintain, calibrate, and repair safety devices. Incumbent operates, adjusts, maintains, and repairs auxiliary equipment. Incumbent adjusts fuel feeds, volume and velocity of draft and other firebox variables to maintain combustion efficiencies, prevent unexpected shutdowns and prevent possible furnace explosions. Incumbent regularly observes and documents information such as pressures, temperatures, levels, and detectors to detect for signs of trouble. Incumbent performs pre-boiler water treatment. This includes mechanical de-aeration and the use of water softeners to remove all hardness and oxygen in the make-up waters. Boiler corrosion and other corrosions; removes water samples daily from boilers. He/she tests for various levels of chemicals and concentrations. Incumbent treats the boiler so as to remain within the prescribed limits. Chemical dosages are adjusted and documented. All return waters are tested for proper pH levels to reduce corrosion. Incumbent maintains and repairs the domestic pumps and the systems located in the Boiler Plant. Incumbent maintains and monitors the Veeder Root System for fuel oil capacities and tank leaks. Maintains, monitors, and calibrates the carbon monoxide and combustible system. Other duties include replacing steel piping by cutting and treading pipe; performing low grade welding and using a cutting torch; replacing motor bearings with the use of a hydraulic press; cutting and soldering of copper piping; performing minor and major repairs and replacement of all refractory, tile, and baffle brick; rebuilding and replacing steam reducing valves; replacing large safety valves; rebuilding, repairing, or replacing steam traps, heat exchangers; and water softeners; rebuilding or replacing steam traps, heat exchangers. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:00pm; 4:00pm - 12:00am; 12:00am - 8:00am; Rotating Shifts Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator / PD01392A Physical Requirements: Incumbent is subject typically from light to moderate physical effort. Adjustment of valves (opening and closing) and lifting items to a workbench is often required. Occasionally, he/she is required to lift over 50 pounds. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Pre-employment physical Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resume before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. 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. (Other Than Blueprint Reading) Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc. Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc. Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments 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 following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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.
