Operate and maintain the machinery that provides power for heating, cooling, and ventilation in the VA Medical Center. Starts and stops equipment and monitors meters and safety controls. Ensures that the systems operate safely and economically by regularly inspecting meters, gauges, values, and instruments. Adjusts equipment when needed. Keeps records of meter readings. Often uses hand or power tools to make minor repairs to machinery. May operate computerized controls to regulate the systems.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/08/2025. 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 (other than blueprint reading) Measuring Instruments Operation of Equipment/Machinery Technical Practices 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: There can be a great deal of physical effort involved with this position as the equipment is large and must be maneuvered into and out of specific locations while dismantling and reassembling. The incumbent frequently carries and sets up parts and equipment that could weight up to 100 pounds. He/she makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places, therefore, stooping, bending and kneeling maybe required for long periods of time. He/she needs to be familiar with lifting dynamics and heavy object handling, and must pass an annual physical for plant operators. Working Conditions: Most of the work is done inside, but the incumbent is frequently subject to sudden temperature changes when working on equipment. Occasionally subject to cuts, electrical shocks, abnormal heat, hazard of boiler burst, steam blow-backs, scalding water burns, toxic amounts of gas and hazardous/toxic chemicals that can be harmful to skin and clothing.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Tour of duty subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Major duties include but not limited to: Performs operator and repairer duties on a rotating shift basis. Plants provide 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a week, and year round production of steam in a plant with a capacity of 46,750 pounds per hour, and for the generation of chilled water in a plant with the capacity of 1350 tons of refrigeration. Operation and repair of two 500 h.p. and one 350 h.p. Nebraska "D" type water tube multi-fuel gas/oil-fired high-pressure boilers which are capable of producing 46,750 lbs./hr. steam each at 125 P.S.I. duties also consist of the operation and repair of all equipment relevant to the operation of these boilers. This includes feed water pumps, fuel oil feed pumps, fuel oil transfer pumps, feedwater pumps, condensate make up/feed transfer pumps, values, regulating valves, reducing stations, unit heaters, emergencies repair of air compressor systems, all piping, condensate return tank, blow down tank, D.A. tank, and pollution control equipment. Operation and repair to the central air conditioning plant, equipment consisting of 1350 tons of electrically generated air conditioning capacity. Duties also consist of operation and repair of all equipment related to the air conditioning plant such as 3- 450-ton Trane Compressor Centrifugal chillers using R134A refrigerant, two Baltimore Air coil Series 3000 Industrial Cooling Towers, pumps, and motors up to 25 Horsepower (chilled water, condenser water, refrigerant, etc.), chemical injection system and all electrical and pneumatic controls. Responsible for maintaining a pre-established chemical level in both chilled and condenser water, to maintain equipment and remove possibly fatal bacterial from the system. This will involve correct handling of hazardous/toxic chemicals. Responsible for logging all hourly reading on all equipment and calculates the air conditioning plant efficiencies. Operation of the Johnson METASYS Computer System which controls heat, ventilation, air conditioning (H.V.A.C.) throughout various locations of this station. The Utility System Operator has the primary responsibility for the METASYS computer system and is responsible for all alarms occurring on his/her shift. Monitoring of the fire alarm panel, phone, police radio, elevator alarms, medical gas alarms, emergency generators, all plant logs, and responsible for calculation of the VA Medical Center emergency needs during the shift and running procedures for emergency call back and emergency preparedness plans. Logs all critical failures and temperatures and notifies appropriate, personnel of any action taken due to unusual circumstances. All minor and most major repairs preventative maintenance as well as all routine safety checks on all equipment located in both the Boiler and Air Conditioning Plants. Responsible for relaying vital information to Reno City Fire Department and hospital police, sounding station disaster and all clear alarms. Other duties as assigned.