Summary The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is located at the Butler VA Medical Center. This position is under the supervision of the Utility Systems Operator Supervisor. Use of proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required; including but not limited to safety glasses, hearing protection, safety toed shoes and the use of an N-95 respirator and participating in a respirator fit testing program. Responsibilities Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD02412A Major Duties Include but not limited to: Develops maintenance procedures, determine proper parts and identify equipment needed to make installations or repairs. Makes independent decisions and completes assignments to ensure they meet accepted trade standards with little or no supervision. Uses knowledge of the refrigeration cycle on a variety of commercial, residential, and industrial systems. Locate and check elements such as those which control low side and high side, the temperature of the cooling units, the temperature of the liquid, suction lines and monitor the running times for a variety of equipment. Checks for the probability of leaks using visual and audible examination of equipment components, applies prescribed test procedures to equipment by exploration of probable reasons for equipment failures. Supplemental plans, diagrams and schematics ma be available for more modern equipment. Must have knowledge of the principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration such as refrigeration cycles, heat transfer laws, refrigerant tables, calculating air flow and the pressure temperature characteristics for the different systems in order to locate and repair faulty equipment swiftly and to reduce inoperative time to a minimum. Must know how to locate trouble before dismantling equipment and to make repairs that insure proper functions after assembly. Maintain and repair air conditioning systems for large buildings or complexes of buildings. This includes the energy control system and subsystems, chillers, motor controls, compressors, refrigerant controls, automatic expansion valves, hot and cold circulating loops and associated equipment. This knowledge involves the operation and regulation of cold storage and specialized climate. A variety of complicated motor controls are also used. Various @types of power sources are used with a combination of pulleys, belts, etc. Operate and repair all aspects of the environmental control system to include adding and removing points in the system, building graphics, modifying and troubleshooting programing, repairing and replacing sensors, actuators and other control devices, and repairing and replacing LAN devices such as terminal equipment controllers. Must have a working knowledge of the entire air conditioning and heating systems located at the VA Butler Healthcare System. Troubleshoot and determine leaks and the probability of possible failures using prescribed testing procedures or field development tests. Have experienced knowledge of principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration such as refrigeration cycles, heat transfer laws, use of reference tables, calculation and balancing of air flow and pressure temperature relationships for systems in order to diagnose and repair faulty or inefficiently operating equipment. Oversees a "Viewpoint Monitoring Alarm System" of refrigeration equipment placed in all refrigerators/freezers within the medical center. The Checkpoint System sends an alarm to the boiler plant where incumbent is immediately dispatched to locate and resolve the issue. Install, troubleshoot, repair, maintain and sanitize refrigerators, freezers and ice machines, including those utilized for patient food and drugs, laboratory specimens and blood products. Test chemical treatment of both open and closed water loops, and dose as required. Incumbent would be required to complete other tasks as needed including but not limited to assisting the plumbing and electrical shops as well as the boiler plant. 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) Technical Practices Troubleshooting Without more than normal supervision Selective Placement Factor: The incumbent must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a pickup truck. In accordance with 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, EPA, people working in this @type of position must have and maintain proper EPA Certifications for working with refrigerants. You must have these EPA Certification Types I, II and III in order to meet the requirements of this position. Physical Requirements: In performing daily tasks, physical effort and stamina is required in walking, stooping, kneeling, working with hands over head or in close quarters and in strained positions, lifting and using different muscles in different positions. The incumbent works from ladders, scaffolding and hydraulic work platforms. Requires good vision (with or without glasses) and should have good hearing (aid permitted). They frequently handle, lifts, carries, and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to 80 pounds. The incumbent will be required to work from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms, and in cramped and hard-to-reach places. Most work requires the incumbent to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Frequent lifting, carrying, and setting up materials and equipment that weigh up to 80 pounds. He/she is standing or walking much of the time and must be in good overall physical condition. Physical capability to regularly walk long distances, dexterity, and accurate eye hand coordination, and corrected 20/20 vision are required. Working Conditions Work is performed indoors and outdoors in various weather and temperature conditions. May be subjected to excessive dampness or chill, close quarters, uneven walking surfaces, working on ladders or scaffolding and confined spaces. Must work alone or in cooperation and coordination with others. Many work sites are hot, dirty, dusty, greasy, poorly lit, cramped and with unpleasant orders. The incumbent will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as necessary to accomplish assigned tasks in a safe manner. 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.
