Utility Systems Operator

Summary

This position is located within Facilities Management Service at the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Bay Pines, FL.

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Duties

• Operates 24 hour a day, 7 day a week energy control center with continuous monitoring and operation of complex utilities and systems.
• The incumbents primary role is operating the Boiler and Chiller Plants. All other items are secondary.
• Starts, stops, and regulates the utilities and their system components for optimum efficiency and to troubleshoot, maintain, and repair them.
• Troubleshoots, operates and repairs essential large utility systems.
• Operates, maintains and repairs multiple utility systems in a Medical Center.
• Ensures safe, efficient and uninterruptible service to all patient care areas and the associated buildings on campus.
• Evaluates and performs corrective actions on all issue calls: elevator, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, electric doors, door locks, pneumatic tube system, card readers, nurse call system, TV, and lighting.
• Addresses, troubleshoots, stabilizes, and/or resolves emergency situations requiring Facilities Management involvement.
• Provides front-line support and response assessing facility issues, aiding and or assisting safety, the fire department, police department and hospital staff as needed during emergent situations.
• Troubleshoots, maintains and repairs large industrial utility systems such as: Boiler Plant, Chiller Plant, Pneumatic Tube System, Steam Distribution Systems, Water Distribution Systems, Electrical Distribution Systems, Natural Gas Distribution Systems, and Refrigeration Systems.
• Coordinates work with contracted vendors and/or notifying other Facilities Management Service employees of the need to report to the facility.
• Uses the building automation system (BAS) Metasys (HVAC) and Scada and ADAC systems (Boilers).
• Identifies, diagnoses, repairs, cleans, dismantles and operates equipment using very degraded and/or poor quality electric/electronic wiring diagrams, schematics and blueprints.
  
  

Work Schedule: Full time, 12 hour shifts, potential to be rotating day or night shift.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

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Requirements

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
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: This position must be in a satisfactory physical and mental condition and fit for duty at all times, excluding body maintenance items. They may frequently work in confined spaces and will be required to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, crawl, walk, jump and climb for moderate time durations. The employee may be subject to very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous working conditions. they will be required to work in varying degrees of temperature, constant noise, dirt, soot, oil, grease and hot steam piping. Generally the employee works indoors, but may be required to work outdoors occasionally for short periods of time and will be exposed to weather conditions. Will have to install and make repairs to equipment from ladders, scaffolding, platforms and hard-to-reach spaces. Must be able to lift equipment, parts, supplies and chemicals weighing up to 50lbs. Employee efforts will vary depending on the task to be performed.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Technical Practices
• Without more than normal supervision
  
  
  

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.



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; religious; 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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

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.

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• Help 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.
  
  

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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.