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.

Air Conditioning Equipment Duties

• Independently operates, maintains, and repairs all HVAC and refrigeration systems throughout the facilities, ensuring strict temperature control for sensitive clinical areas.
• Performs inspections, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs on chillers, air-handling units, pumps, controls, valves, compressors, and related components.
• Conducts quality-assurance checks, vibration analysis, rounds, and water testing to ensure system performance meets established tolerances.
• Installs and repairs ductwork, tubing, and fittings using welding, brazing, soldering, and mechanical assembly methods.
• Tests systems for leaks, evacuates and charges refrigerants properly, and ensures optimal operating conditions using a broad range of mechanical, electrical, and rigging tools.

Boiler Plant Duties

• Operates, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs all boiler plant systems, including boilers, pumps, condensate/steam systems, pollution control equipment, and water-softening equipment.
• Uses manual, automatic, and microprocessor controls to adjust and monitor boiler operations for efficiency, safety, and compliance with regulations.
• Performs chemical water testing and treatment for both chilled and boiler systems.
• Maintains and repairs pneumatic control systems, industrial controls, and auxiliary equipment required for reliable plant operation.
• Uses mechanical, electrical, and rigging tools to perform rebuilds, installations, preventive maintenance, and system adjustments.

Industrial Equipment & Power Support Systems Duties

• Monitors, operates, troubleshoots, and repairs fire alarm systems, building automation controls (Andover), pneumatic controls, and all emergency power systems including generators, ATS units, and switchgear.
• Performs calibration, modification, maintenance, and installation of non-medical electrical and electronic systems. Conducts monthly generator and ATS testing per Joint Commission and NEC requirements.
• Interprets wiring diagrams, schematics, blueprints, and control drawings to diagnose and correct electrical, mechanical, and engine-generator issues.
• Maintains electrical distribution systems, ensuring proper voltage, phase, load, regulation, and synchronization.
• Ensures compliance with CEOSH, Life Safety, OSHA, and environmental standards through regular inspections and coordination with Safety and GEMS staff.
• Supports other Engineering Service functions as required.

Work Schedule: Multiple Fixed Tours.
Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Repairer-Operator/PD13158A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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 identification 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, 07/20/2026.

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:


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/Working Conditions: The work requires frequent climbing, bending, crouching, stooping, standing, and walking-often for extended periods and sometimes in confined or hot/humid spaces. The incumbent must lift and carry parts and supplies up to 50 pounds and perform tasks involving pulling, crawling, overhead work, and use of arm, back, and leg muscles. Duties may require working from ladders or staging and handling equipment in tight or physically demanding environments.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• Other (1)
• Resume

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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.

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