Summary The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is located in the Maintenance & Operations Section of Engineering Service. The incumbent requires a knowledge of the construction characteristics of a variety of @type and models of systems that are designed to reach and maintain critical and extreme conditions under a variety of circumstances. Responsibilities This position is in the Maintenance and Operations Section, Engineering Service, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN. The position reports directly to the Maintenance and Operations Supervisor. The primary purpose is to troubleshoot, diagnose, repair, modify, and maintain complex air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, and building automation systems (HVAC/R) that provide specific and critical climatic conditions in all spaces of the medical center campus. As the Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic, the incumbent's duties include, but are not limited to: Recognizes the need for repair, trouble shoot, install and make repairs on equipment in this large medical center complex, requiring a temperature between 70 and 74 degrees at all times; an electronic data processing center requiring a temperature of 65-75 degrees with a critical equipment requirement of not more than 3.7 degree rate of change per hour and not more than 2% relative humidity rate of change per hour. Repairs, installs, modify and calibrate complex pneumatic and electronic controls serving independent system in the entire medical center complex.-Maintains and operates glycol run around and preheat systems, test and treat glycol for freeze protection and rust prevention.-Repairs, installs and modifies various @types of ice producing equipment. Repairs, modifies and installs walk-in @type coolers and freezers having automatic defrost controls, thermostatic expansion valves, solenoids, semi-hermetic compressors, water-cooled condensers and various pressure controls. Installs equipment in various areas of the medical center such as radiological film processors, computer room equipment, energy management sensors and cables, biomedical testing equipment, toxicology testing equipment, and install them so that the heat and exhaust is directed outside the room without affecting the critical area. Dismantles, repairs, repacks and modifies pumps by installing and replacing mechanical seals, shaft sleeves, impellers and bearings, reassembling and realigning pump to maintain less than .003 inches of run out on each axis. Responsible for treating cooling tower circulating water.- Incumbent on occasion will be required to perform other duties that may be assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 6:00am to 2:30pm, or 6:30am to 3:00pm, 7:00am to 3:30pm, or 7:30am to 4:00pm, or 8:00am to 4:30pm. Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD50541-A Physical Requirements: Incumbent is exposed to extreme weather conditions when working in air handlers and on the roof. Incumbent is exposed to low temperature (-20 degrees Fo) when working in freezers. May be exposed to many diseases when working in patient rooms and around exhaust fans. Must wear protective masks and other personal equipment when appropriate. 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. 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 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 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: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Troubleshooting 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. 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.
