Duties

Operates and Maintains High Pressure Boilers and Auxiliary Equipment.
Lights off, operates, secures, and maintains power boilers and associated auxiliary`s and pollution control equipment.
Operates dampers, induced, and forced draft fans, heat exchangers, fuel and air heaters, pumps, fuel pressure, control valves, fuel strainers, relief valves, water softeners, and other similar equipment.
Regulates fuel feed and water levels and maintains required steam pressure and temperatures.
Replenishes chemical feed tanks and monitor feed water conditioning equipment to control or remove impurities and entrapped gases.
Ensures completion of equipment overhaul and the preparation of boilers for inspection.
Independently starts, adjusts, maintains, and periodically monitors water level, fuel feed, pressure, and other gauges to assure efficient operation.
Operates and maintains a Back-Up Fuel Supply for boilers consisting of three 30,000 gallon propane tanks with a Nitrogen actuated emergency shutdown system to secure propane supply in an emergency.
Operates and maintains liquid propane vaporizing equipment to provide a propane gas product to the boiler burners. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Starts/Stops, Maintains, Repairs High Pressure Boilers and Associated Auxiliary Equipment Operates boiler plants with capacity of 20,000 to 80,000 pounds of steam per hour.
Maintains efficient combustion levels and ensure compliance with air pollution laws or regulations.
Conducts rounds and documenting operating parameters for this equipment every four-hours on a 24/7 basis.
Conducts water quality testing and treat water based on the results to maintain boilers in peak operating condition.
Tests and maintains all boiler safety devices in accordance with and as required by the VA Directive 1810 and safety device test manual current edition.
Documents all plant activity in the Boiler Plant Event Log and relays instructions to the following shift including problems encountered and action taken to correct.
Work Schedule: Full time, 8-hr shift, 24-hrs per week, 7-days per week-rotating.
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD24169A
Physical Requirements: Frequently works in confined areas in and around boilers. Requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching. Frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted. Occasionally, and with assistance, carries items weighing over 40 pounds.
Working Conditions: Mainly works indoors but occasionally works outside for short periods of time. Subject to high temperatures, constant noise, rotating machinery, soot, dirt, grease, chemicals, oil, and fumes. Subject to cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and burns from acids, caustics, hot water, steam and contact with boilers. Work on catwalks and ladders. Works in the central steam generating plant, subject to extreme noise from air compressors, fans, motors, and other equipment in use. Frequently works in areas of high ambient temperature and humidity levels. The incumbent will make rounds on the low-pressure campus boilers to log operational parameters and perform safety device testing and maintain the low pressure units. Occasionally subject to the hazards of cuts and burns from contact with boilers and high pressure steam burst and heat.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  Documents Accepted:

  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (Schedule A)
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Other (1)
  • PCS Orders
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

  Documents Required:
  

  • Resume

  Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
  Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
  Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

• How to Apply

  All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
  To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/09/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12377118.
  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
  NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

  Agency contact information

  Joseph Tourek

  Phone

  414-384-2000 X47703

  Email

  JOSEPH.TOUREK@VA.GOV

  Address

  Tomah VA Medical Center
  500 East Veterans Street
  Tomah, WI 54660
  US

  Next steps

  After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. Positions authorized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for VA-001 DHA: On November 2, 2023, OPM approved DHA extension and amendment through December 31, 2026, for the following occupations and grade levels nationwide: Boiler Plant Operator, WG-5402-9.