Employee will serve as a Utility Systems Operator assigned to the Facilities Management Service Energy Center located at the Veterans Healthcare System in Battle Creek, MI.

Duties

Employee will be responsible for the safe operation of the Boiler/Combined Heating and Power (CHP) Plant, including maintenance and repair. Duties will include, but may not be limited to the following: Starts, operates, and stops all systems within the Energy Center, and performs various repairs on multiple systems within the plant. Uses manual and automatic control systems, monitors, adjusts, and controls all phases of boiler plant operations. Changes fuel sources in both plants as required, from natural gas to fuel oil in the boiler plant, or wood chips to natural gas in the CHP plant. Performs safety checks necessary to start up a cold plant and those required on a hot plant. Analyzes boiler water and cooling water and makes corrections as needed. Uses electronic and pneumatic controls, in conjunction with meters and gauges to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operation or changing load requirements. Operates, adjusts, and maintains auxiliary and pollution control equipment such as electrical or steam driven pumps, forced, and induced draft fans, air compressors, de-aerating equipment, feed water heaters and economizers. Adjusts fuel feeds and the volume and velocity of draft and other firebox variables to achieve maximum combustion efficiency with changing load demands or variations in fuel quality. Observes and notes readings on gauges, meters, recorders, and boiler water level indicators to detect abnormal signals in operations. Performs necessary daily, weekly, and monthly tasks/checks to provide efficient and safe plant operation. Tests feed water, boiler water and condensate using standard chemical tests and determines the treatment and chemicals to be used to control chemical concentrations, remove impurities and entrapped gases, or stabilize fluctuating water conditions in the boiler. Checks the operation of safety equipment such as flame extinction, automatic reignition, low water cut-outs, high pressure cut-outs, and purge type combustion safeties. Operates the emergency electrical generator to meet plant electrical requirements when the main electrical source is unable to provide the necessary power. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 80 hours in a two week period to include six 12 hour shifts, one 8 hour shift, and 7 days off / alternating. To be discussed during interview process. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Frequently works in confined areas in and around boilers and support equipment (i.e., auxiliary and pollution control equipment). Requires moderate to strenuous effort and longs periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching. Frequently lifts and carries parts and chemical supplied up to 40 pounds unassisted, and heavier items with assistance of other workers or weight handling equipment. Will work indoors and occasionally outside for short periods of time where will be subjected to prevailing weather conditions. Workers are subject to high temperatures, constant noise, rotting machinery, soot, dirt, grease, oil, chemicals and fumes in work areas. Employees are subject to cuts and abrasions from use of tools and equipment, and burns from acids, caustics, hot water, steam, and contact with piping and boilers. In addition, works on catwalks and ladders. 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 SafetyEquipment Assembly, Installation, RepairInterpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)Operation of Equipment/MachineryTechnical PracticesWithout 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.

Contacts

• Address Battle Creek VA Medical Center 5500 Armstrong Road Battle Creek, MI 49037 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]