Boiler Plant Operator

Summary
This Boiler Plant Operator position is located in the Engineering Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System. This position is intermittent (unscheduled set of hours).
This is an open and continuous job opportunity announcement. Certificates are issued on an unannounced periodic basis based on requests from management. Applications will be evaluated and referred for selection as vacancies occur within the organization. This announcement may close at any time once all positions are filled.
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

• Uses electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls, and zone charts in conjunction with meters, gauges, and computer-generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.
• Monitors and tests the operation of HPS boiler systems in order to identify malfunctions and potential problems with equipment such as automatic controls, valves, electrostatic precipitators, lime slurry systems, piping, pumps, and related components.
• Performs operational maintenance (e.g. lubricate equipment and power clean water tubes) and repairs of limited complexity on mechanical parts and systems and may be required to perform limited or basic electrical repairs.
• Uses the proper tools for boiler and associated equipment maintenance, including the instrumentation.
• Takes samples of the boiler feed water and test them for the proper level of chemical additives. Based upon the results of these tests, adjusts the level of the chemicals that are fed into the boiler water to achieve the proper operating levels.
• Performs preventative and scheduled maintenance on plant systems and equipment including boiler feed pumps, fuel oil pumps, air compressors, turbines, generators, boiler fixtures, and combustion fans.
• Installs, maintains, and repairs a variety of complex equipment and systems involving high pressure steam (HPS) generating boilers with complicated components, critical requirements, and rigid tolerances.
• Provides comprehensive control and operational readiness of all high-pressure steam boilers supplying the main hospital and all outlying support structures.
• Operates and maintains high pressure boilers and their auxiliary equipment controls.
• Starts up any boiler, and bring it to the state where it can take its share of the load.
• Executes proper boiler blow down procedures and the proper soot blowing procedures.
• Operates medical center fire safety codes.
• Sets up fire watches till the alarm situation is rectified.
• Calls in vendors to perform corrective procedures to get buildings out of alarm status.
• Performs plumbing work involving maintenance and repair of a wide variety of piping, plumbing fixtures (lavatories, commodes, sink, disposals, bath tubs and shower fixtures).
• Makes electrical repairs by removing ad replacing defective parts.

Work Schedule: Intermittent employment is defined as non-fulltime employment in which employees serve under an excepted or competitive service appointment without a regularly scheduled tour of duty. A position with an intermittent work schedule is sporadic and unpredictable so that a tour of duty cannot be regularly scheduled in advance.
Position Description Title/PD#:Boiler Plant Operator/PD#523A-00308-A
Physical Requirements: The position requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending and crouching. The incumbent must work from ladders and catwalks, at times above 20 feet, and in cramped spaces. The incumbent must frequently lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds and may be required to handle heavier loads with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• 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

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:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Dexterity and Safety
• 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.
Skills and Knowledge Required by the Position:
The incumbent must have a journeyman's knowledge of the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers and their auxiliary equipment and controls. Specifically, they must be familiar with performing the following functions:

• Must be familiar with pneumatic and direct digital controls and their operation on equipment used in boiler controls.
• Must have knowledge of boiler construction and know the characteristics of all associated boiler equipment.
• Must know how to start up idle boilers and equipment so as to get them operational in emergency situations in a timely manner.
• Must know how to take samples of the boiler feed water and test them for the proper level of chemical additives.
• Must know how to adjust the level of the chemicals that are fed into the boiler water to achieve the proper operating levels based upon the results of these tests.
• Must know how to switch from operation on natural gas, the primary fuel, to fuel oil and back again.
• Must have knowledge of sounding fuel oil tanks, receiving deliveries of oil, and putting information in the log book.
• Must know the techniques for lining up fuel oil systems to take action from the fuel tanks, and the procedures for shifting fuel oil from one tank to another.
• Must have a working knowledge of plumbing, steam fitting and electricity.
• Must be intimately familiar with the proper lock out/tag out systems that are used on the boilers to isolate all the various energy sources while working on boiler and equipment maintenance.
• Must have the ability to interpret drawings, manuals and technical guides, and lay out work as necessary.
• Must have a journeyman's knowledge of the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers ad their auxiliary equipment and controls.
• Must be able to use the proper tools for boiler and associated equipment maintenance, including the instrumentation used to measure or rectify a situation to keep boilers and equipment operating in a safe and proper manner.
• Must be able to perform minor repairs and make adjustments to instruments so as to operate in a safe and efficient manner.
• Must be physically capable of lifting of up to 50 pounds is required as is the ability to walk and climb stairs as a great amount of the time required to conduct readings on equipment throughout all levels of the Boiler Plant.

Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

• Benefits
  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.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
Resume Reminder: Your resume must include the following information each job listed:

1. Job title
2. Duties (be as detailed as possible)
3. Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
4. Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)

Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume.
Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is in the Competitive Service.
• The restriction on movement of an employee following appointment using Direct Hire Authority (following competitive appointment in 5 C.F.R. 330.502) applies for the first 90 days.
• This position is covered by Federal Wage System Special Wage Rates for Skilled Trades Positions Boston, Massachusetts, AC-F068, Effective Date: February 12, 2023. SPECIAL RATE RANGES FOR FEDERAL WAGE SYSTEM SKILLED POSITIONS AT: Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Massachusetts, Boiler Plant Operator, WG-5402-, grades 08 and above.
• Individuals appointed under Direct Hire Authority procedures receive appointments to competitive service positions. Consistent with 5 C.F.R. 315.801, 5 C.F.R. 315.802 and 5 C.F.R. 316.304, an individual is required to serve a 1 year probationary unless the individual has prior service that counts toward completion of the probationary period.
• Veterans' preference in hiring does not apply when selecting individuals under VA's Direct Hire Authority. When hiring under Direct Hire Authority, the law allows selecting officials to hire applicants without regard to 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, which eliminates the requirement for applying Veterans' preference. VA HR Offices may assess and select any qualified applicant in the order applicants are received.

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