Job Description

Boiler Plant Operator

The position is located in the Office of the Facilities Management Service, in the boiler plant operations at the White City VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics (SORCC). The White City VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics (SORCC) consists of one Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility, located in White City, Oregon and 2 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), located in Grant Pass, Oregon and Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Major duties include but is not limited to:

• The Operator uses electronic and pneumatic controls, charts, recorders, meters, gauges, and computer-generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.
• Operators operate, adjust, maintain and repair auxiliary equipment including unfired pressure vessels, centrifugal pumps, rotary pumps, piston pumps, forced draft fans, atomized air compressors, water softening units, fuel oil strainers and filters, steam traps and strainers, piping and valves.
• Operator adjusts fuel feeds, volume and velocity of draft and other firebox variables to maintain combustion efficiencies, prevent unexpected shut downs and prevent possible furnace explosions.
• Regularly observes and documents information such as pressures, temperatures, levels, and detectors to identify signs of trouble.
• Operator maintains and analyzes the boiler water treatment program to prolong its useful life and prevent the premature failure of the pressure containing boiler parts.
• Monitors plant status with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) computer system.
• Incumbent monitors the City Water Pressure alarm and alarm panels for #1 & #2 Emergency Diesel Generator operations to ensure emergency power is supplied to the boiler plant in the event of a power outage.
• Test and calibrates level transmitters and pressure transmitters.
• Incumbent visually inspects boiler settings and refractory linings for signs of deterioration and failure due to heat stress resulting in flue gases escaping into the plant and endangering on-duty personnel.
• Operator makes independent decisions and judgments regarding troubleshooting techniques, an modification and repair procedures.
• Operator performs after business hour call-in troubleshooting and repairs for HVAC, electrical and plumbing.
• Is required to do the majority of steam fitting, plumbing, painting, and housekeeping duties in the boiler plant.
• Is also required to perform minor electrical troubleshooting and repairs.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Wednesday, 06:00am-6:00pm with one Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm every 2 weeks (Possibly working on Holidays).

Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate to heavy physical exertion while lifting, carrying, handling, moving, pulling, pushing, transporting or setting up; equipment, ladders, materials, parts, scaffolds, tools up to 50 pounds unaided. Occasionally required to lift and move items weighing in excess of 100 pounds, with the help of weight handling equipment or with assistance from other workers. Works from catwalks, ground level, ladders, platforms, scaffolds, or hard-to-reach places requiring climbing, reaching over and under while in cramped, awkward, tiring, and or uncomfortable positions; applying hand, eye, leg, and body coordination. Work requires kneeling, stretching, pushing, pulling, crouching, stooping, bending, climbing, walking and standing for long periods on concrete floors and corrugated steel catwalks and negotiating confined spaces. Must be able to use appropriate respiratory protective equipment while working in conditions involving adverse elements such as carbon, cement, fire clay, fibrous glass, silica and soot dust, chemical and organic vapors. Must have vision of no less than 20/40 (corrected) and be able to distinguish basic shades of color. Must be able to perform work at heights in excess of thirty feet and inside confined spaces requiring entry and exit through standard manual openings. Boiler plant operators will receive annual physicals to ensure they are physically fit to perform the assigned duties.

Working Conditions: The operator generally works indoors in an adequately-lighted, ventilated space; is under the direct supervision of the Boiler Plant Supervisor who makes oral or written assignments related to changes in established practices. Operator regularly works alone in a remote and restricted access area. Operator regularly works in extreme temperature environment in excess of 100 degrees, is regularly exposed to chemicals, fossil fuels, lubricants, moving machinery and parts; air, steam and liquids under high pressures and temperatures and solvents. There is danger of boiler or furnace explosions, burns, broken bones, cuts and scalds, electrical shock, pressure vessel ruptures, slipping, tripping and falling.

Requirements Conditions of Employment:

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job. Subject to a background/suitability investigation. Pre-employment physical required. May serve a probationary period. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov. 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 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, 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. 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 eligible are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Dexterity and Safety Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Measuring Instruments Operation of Equipment/Machinery Technical Practices Without more than normal supervision 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.

Education There is no educational substitute for this grade level.

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), 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 .

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