Summary This position serves as a Utility Systems Repairer Operator within the Engineering Service at the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. This position performs a full range of tasks that are involved in the upkeep, maintenance and operation of the Boiler Plant, Chiller Plant, and Engineering Control Center. Responsibilities The duties of the Utility Systems Repairing-Operating includes but is not limited to: Monitors the overall operation of the boiler plant to maintain the required steam production for heat and process used throughout the VA campus. Makes various operational adjustments to maintain plant efficiency and safety. Maintains records and logs of plant operating conditions. Performs daily boiler water tests to determine chemical treatment required to prevent scales and corrosion of the boilers. Maintains proper chemistry control of boiler water, condensate, and chilled water through dally testing and adjusts chemical injection and blowdown rates as required. Perform dally and preventative maintenance determined by scheduled activities (i.e. steam trap maintenance, valve maintenance, greasing of equipment and other predetermined tasks: (chillers, chill water pumps, cooling towers). Performs maintenance work on boiler plant equipment (i.e. cleaning and repairing boilers; dismantling, repairing and installing control linkages; replacing valve seats, disc, and packing; adjusting and repairing feed water regulators, pressure reducing valves, boiler feed water pumps, deaerator feed water heater, booster pumps, and heat exchangers). Adjusts boiler combustion controls, boiler safety devices, and Individual screw compressors for each boiler for steam atomizing. Performs work involving operating and maintaining the Medical Center's centralized, multiple zone chill water plant. Tests the emergency diesel generator for the boiler plant. Examines blueprints and electrical schematics, sketches, written or oral instructions. Checks the operation of safety equipment (i.e. flame controls, low water cutouts, low and high water alarms, high pressure cutouts switches and safety valves). Maintains the correct level of water that is pumped into the campus water tower. Sounds the correct alarm signal on the station steam whistle as specified by station policy. Utilizes the Schneider Electric Facilities Energy Management system to control and monitor the air conditioning plant that consists of multiple large capacity chillers and auxiliary equipment that are monitored and used as a basis for judgments and operating decisions. Operates various hand and power tools and technical test equipment, including ammeters, voltmeters, and ohmmeters. Responds to many of the building alarm systems, i.e. fire alarms, medical gas alarms, elevators, generators, and the Environmental Control System. Initiates emergency call-ins for maintenance when notified by the Administrative Officer of the Day (AOD). Diagnoses, troubleshoots, modifies, repairs, replaces, and installs critical and special purpose HVAC/R equipment and systems that provide specific and critical climatic conditions throughout the entire Medical Center. May be required to make emergency decisions during off hours, natural disasters, bad weather, etc. Work Schedule: Compressed, 12-hour Tour Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Repairer-Operator/PD10377A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Pre-employment physical 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 03/09/2026. 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 Inspect Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) 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. Physical Requirements: Subjected to sustained physical effort in the operation of power boilers, chillers, HVAC/R equipment, steam distribution systems, chilled water distribution systems; physical requirements may include working from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms where parts of the system are in hard-to-reach places. Work is carried out in tiring positions such as standing, crouching, stooping, kneeling, and prone for long periods of time. Occasionally, the incumbent will be required to lift items in excess of 50 pounds and 100 pounds with assistance. The incumbent frequently lifts, carries, and sets up parts and equipment that weighs up to 50 pounds. Working Conditions: The work is performed inside and outside with exposure to all kinds of weather. The work area may be dirty, wet, dusty, and greasy, with inadequate lighting, heat, or ventilation. Incumbent is subject to cuts, abrasions, burns, broken bones, electrical shock, infections, bites, exposure to inhalation or harmful chemical fumes, irritation of eyes, skin and respiratory tract, and the hazards of operating power tools and equipment. Discomfort is encountered when wearing protective clothing, gloves, or eye goggles. Education Additional Information 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. 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.
