Boiler Plant Operator

The Boiler Plant Operator is responsible for general, operation, maintenance, and repair requirements as established by the Chief, Facilities Management Service, for the Seattle, American Lake & all associated CBOC's and clinics of VA Puget Sound Health Care System.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of 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:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Technical Practices
• Without more than normal supervision

English Language Proficiency In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in English language.

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.

Responsibilities:

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Possess skill in adjusting various combustion settings to compensate for varying qualities or condition of fuel when needed to maintain efficiency.
• Ability to determine the treatment and chemicals to be used to control chemical concentrations, remove impurities and entrapped gases, or stabilize fluctuating water conditions in the boiler.
• Basic working knowledge of mechanical systems and devices sufficient to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair various types of equipment.
• Operate and maintain boiler auxiliary equipment with manual and automatic controls to produce saturated steam with dual fire boilers, burning natural gas or #2 diesel fuels.
• Operates forced draft blowers, heat exchangers, diesel fuel pumps, control valves, strainers, relief valves, safety valves, water softeners and similar equipment.
• Regulate fuel and feed water levels, maintains required steam pressures, tests and treats boiler water and condensate returns to prescribed limits.
• Select common hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, wire cutters, strippers, hammers, and wrenches needed to perform tasks.
• Select powered equipment such as power drills, rotor-hammers, band saws, and cut off saws needed to perform tasks.
• Use Boiler Plant systems trade tools such as a pipe threader, taps, dies, drill press, and gear/bearing pullers, multi meters, emissions monitoring tools.
• Work is assigned to the incumbent by supervision and others through logbooks, work orders, engineering drawings, wiring diagrams or oral.
• Consistently communicates and treat customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner.
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.
• Maintains close communication with supervision on progress reporting resource requests, and conflict resolution.
• Works in areas where certain potentially harmful physical and/or treatment chemical are present.
• Working in confined spaces.

Work Schedule: 12 Hour Shifts, rotates every 4 months(7am - 7pm; 7pm - 7am)
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD40885A
Physical Requirements: Frequently work in confined area in and around boilers. Requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending and crouching. Frequently lifts and carries boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 50lbs unassisted. May install, troubleshoot and repair equipment or components from ladders, platforms and scaffolding and in cramped hard to reach areas. This can require walking long distances, prolonged standing, stooping, bending and climbing in uncomfortable or tiring positions.

Salary : $35