This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Salem VA Medical Center (VAMC), in the Utility Section of Facility Management Service.

Duties

The incumbent of this position serves as a trainee in Facility Management Service in a position designed to increase knowledge of the trade and develop skills for advancing to a journeyman level position in this trade. The incumbent works closely with Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanics to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to accomplish journeyman level work assignments independently. At the journeyman level, the position will be able to perform work installing, recognizing the cause of faulty equipment, and repairing, modifying and relocating equipment, and complex air conditioning, heating and ventilating (HVAC) equipment on the Energy Management System (Direct Digital Controls System) to provide specific and critical climatic conditions throughout the medical center. The incumbent works with journeyman A/C Equipment Mechanics and is instructed to clean and change filters, lubricate motors, replace belts, and clean drain pans and service rooms as required for Preventive Maintenance. The incumbent will keep inventory of filters and belts and will keep supervisor informed of ordering needs. The incumbent will assist journeyman A/C Mechanics and Operators, and receive instruction in, the installation and repairs to all heating and air conditioning equipment, helping Mechanics and Operators recognize the causes of faulty equipment, and make repairs on a variety of domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning units and systems. The incumbent will assist and receive instruction from journeyman level mechanics who maintain, install, hook up, and put into operation all types of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and electric and pneumatic controls for offices, conference rooms, labs and test areas, X-ray rooms, Stand Alone MRI Air Cooled Chillers, operating rooms, computer rooms, walk-in coolers Cook Chill Retherm Units. Under direction of the journeyman, the incumbent will learn to recognize the causes of faulty equipment and to modify special purpose equipment such as OR back up Chiller and to make necessary repairs, modifying and replacing equipment on various special purpose air conditioning systems and refrigeration systems that require close tolerance temperatures, humidifying and dehumidifying. Incumbent will assist in frequent alterations to systems to provide specific and critical climate conditions in different locations such as laboratories, operating rooms, Nuclear medicine laboratories, computer rooms, ICU and CCU areas, morgue coolers, walk-in boxes and blood banks, clinics, offices, and wards. The incumbent will assist the journeyman mechanics who maintain and repair A/C units from 1/2 ton window units up to 1200 ton electrical centrifugal chillers and electrical circuits with 4160 volts down to 24 volt control circuits and cooling towers up to 1200 tons. Incumbent works with many different manufacturers' types of equipment on DX type systems and chill water type systems such as air handling units low velocity and high velocity air, variable air volume systems. Dismantles, repairs, and reassembles package A/C systems, chill water coils, reheat and preheat type heating coils, steam, water and infrared humidifiers parts such as compressors, motors, dampers and damper motors, air diffusers, and pneumatic and electric control systems. Performs complete complex repairs with oversight by journeyman mechanic such installing and fitting connecting rods, crank shafts, piston rings, etc.; overhauling valves by adjusting or replacing gaskets, springs, floats, valve fittings, etc.; and aligning motors and flywheel drives. With guidance of a journeyman mechanic, the incumbent air balances systems to specifications or alters to maintain close tolerance temperature, humidifying and dehumidifying. Incumbent monitors wireless temperature monitoring system (TEMPTRAK) and responds to any escalating alarms or refrigeration units not maintaining desired temperature ranges by adjusting and modifying design parameters. Incumbent takes vibration reading on equipment and logs reading on record forms and makes corrections to improve vibration of equipment. Performs other directly related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 645am - 3:3pm, Monday-Friday Position Description Title/PD#: 023160

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• 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, 01/24/2024. 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: Analysis and Problem SolvingElectrical EquipmentEquipment Assembly, Installation, RepairOperation of Equipment/Machinery 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: As a trainee, the incumbent's daily duties are similar to those of the journeyman mechanic and consist of climbing, working in cramped positions and restricted spaces, and moving and lifting heavy objects and equipment in the repairing and installation of NC and refrigeration systems. Rigging devices, come-alongs, hoists and pulleys are used in removing units such as large compressors, coils, motors, air handlers and condensers. Incumbent, in making repairs and installations, works from ladders, scaffolding and platforms. Equipment is located in hard-to-reach places and stooping, stretching, bending, and kneeling are frequently for long periods of time in making repairs. Working Conditions: Similar to the journeyman mechanic, the incumbent's work is primarily indoors, but frequently he/she is required to work outside, on top of high buildings, in drafty attic spaces and in cramped areas with low overheads. Incumbent is subject to burns when brazing and due to large amounts of refrigerants used, subject to escaping gases when making repairs.

Contacts

• Address Salem VA Medical Center 1970 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, VA 24153 US
• Name: Cassandra Brown
• Phone: 804-675-5000 X2353
• Email: [email protected]