Summary The position operates as a journeyman level Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic conducting installation, operation, preventive maintenance, and repair on all refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, and ventilation equipment and all support equipment including the energy management computer system. Located within the Engineering Service at Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola, Florida, but may perform maintenance services at any one of the outlying outpatient clinics located in Florida. Responsibilities 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. Installs, repairs, replaces, and conducts preventative maintenance on all ice machines and filter systems. Replaces pump motors and pumps on air handling units. Evacuates, brazes, and recharges systems using proper trade guidelines. Use tools and equipment such as screwdrivers; various wrenches; pliers; grease guns; compressed air blowers or high pressure water cleaner; hand, pneumatic, or electric pumps. Utilizes and maintain Siemens Controls and Temp Trak systems. Handles refrigerant in accordance with federal EPA regulations. Operates 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. Follow electrical diagrams to connect wires to switches, relays, and thermostats. Follow preventive maintenance schedules and interprets schedules, wiring diagrams and equipment manuals. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD03158A Physical Requirements: Required to push, walk, crawl, bend, lift, and climb to extreme heights while working on, in, and under buildings for sustained periods. Incumbent is often required to lift, pull, and carry heavy pieces of equipment and materials (excess of 100 lbs.) without the assistance of helpers. Physical strength is required in the use of various power and hand tools. A great deal of bending, kneeling, standing, climbing, and walking is a significant factor. Position entails occupational hazards such as possible eye damage, hearing loss, and back injury. Working Conditions: Work may be performed inside and/or outside in all kinds of weather. Job frequently encounters extreme temperature changes from hot and humid conditions to freezing cold temperatures. May be exposed to dust, dirt, and extreme temperature, while servicing air conditioning, ventilation, heating and refrigeration equipment. Works in confined spaces with the proper equipment. The job entails occupational hazards particularly in the handling of water treatment chemicals and hazardous refrigeration gases when making repairs, or when working in cramped hard-to-get-to locations where it would be difficult to escape hurriedly, if the need arose. May be exposed to body fluids while performing work. May also be exposed to TB while adjusting and repairing differential pressure alarms, exhaust fans, and air conditioning units in isolation rooms. Must be aware of all job specific health hazards and will wear the appropriate/required personal protective equipment (PPE). Shall inform supervisor of any unusual health hazards encountered for guidance, as necessary. 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) A pre-placement physical examination is required. Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle. Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process. 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 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 There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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.
