What are the responsibilities and job description for the Utility Systems Repairer-Operator position at Veterans Health Administration?
Summary
This position is located at the Veterans Administration Hudson Valley Health Care System, Engineering Service. The incumbent may be required to work at any of the HVHC Systems facilities.
This job is open to
- The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
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.
Duties
Duties include but not limited to :
The Utilities System Repairer Operator shall be responsible for, operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, installing and modifying complex boilers and ancillary equipment. The central boiler plant consists of 4 multi-fuel water tube and 3 fire tube high pressure boilers ranging from 200 H.P. -900 H.P. The boiler plant is controlled and monitored by a highly complex DDC computerized burner management and monitoring system. The incumbent operates, maintains and modifies to optimize efficiency and energy-savings, while maintaining safety & environmental functions at proper levels for patient care and other facility operations. The incumbent shall be responsible for operation, preventive maintenance, testing and calibrating of highly complex boiler control.
Work shall involve the full range of duties required to operate one or more utility systems of extremely large capacity and flexibility such as multi-fuel boilers that have output ranges of 7,500 to 100,000 pounds of steam per hour. This includes lighting off, monitoring, controlling, securing and maintaining these power boilers and associated auxiliary and pollution control equipment. Incumbent shall operate dampers, induced and forced draft fans, heat exchangers, fuel pumps, air heaters, condensate and boiler water feed pumps, fuel pressure controls, valves, strainers, relief valves which have a variety of components, controls, gauges and auxiliary equipment to coordinate and monitor a variety of specialized work activities with diverse requirements. Checks and adjusts controls, starts, stops, regulates equipment, resets temperature, air, steam and burner management controls and ensures proper operation. Takes and records operational readings of all associated systems. Perform other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule : Full-Time, Shift Work
Position Description Title / PD# : Utility Systems Repairer-Operator / PD02625A
Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by 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 :
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 : This position requires the incumbent to be physically fit to be able to perform the rigors of the job.
The incumbent must pass a yearly fitness for duty physical (including respiratory fit testing) and is subject to random testing for use of illegal substances.
Frequently required to carry, lift and set up equipment that weigh more than 50 pounds. Work in confined areas in and around boilers and support equipment (i.e., auxiliary and pollution control equipment). Hoists, holders, and pulley are operated. The incumbent makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, genie lifts and aerial lifts when appropriate. Frequently performs work where the parts of systems worked on are in hard-to-reach places; therefore, frequent stretching, bending, and kneeling for long periods of time are required.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP), va.gov / EMPLOYEE / docs / The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https : / / www.opm.gov / .
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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.
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.
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.
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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.
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.
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 : Cover Letter
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.
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 02 / 27 / 2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https : / / apply.usastaffing.gov / ViewQuestionnaire / 12698750.
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 M ore 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
Kim Howell
kim.howell3@va.gov
Address
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hospital
2094 Albany Post Road
Montrose, NY 10548
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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Required Documents
Documents Accepted : Cover Letter
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 02 / 27 / 2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https : / / apply.usastaffing.gov / ViewQuestionnaire / 12698750.
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 M ore 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
Kim Howell
kim.howell3@va.gov
Address
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hospital
2094 Albany Post Road
Montrose, NY 10548
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 & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
