This Boiler Plant Operator position is located in the St. Cloud VA Health Care System under the Facilities Management Service Line. The employee will start, operate, adjust, stop, maintain and perform various repairs on dual-fuel boilers and associated auxiliary equipment necessary to generate high-pressure steam requirement to meet the varying demands of the facility steam distribution systems.

Duties

Major Duties Listed but not limited to: Uses manual and automatic control systems to monitor, adjust, and control all phases of boiler plant operations Operates, adjusts, and maintains auxiliary equipment such as electrical, forced draft fans, deaerating equipment, the facilities water softening system and air compressors Observes and reports fuel feeds and draft volumes to insure proper efficient combustion at all load levels Observes readings on gauges, recorders, meters, and water level indicators to detect malfunction in operations Checks operation of safety equipment such as flame extinction, low and high water cutouts and main pressure safety valves Performs operational maintenance and repairs such as cleaning tubes, drums, and firesides on boilers Repairs or replaces valves, gauges, and pumps on boilers and auxiliary equipment Tests feed water, boiler water, make-up water, and condensate using standard tests to determine proper treatment and applies appropriate treatments Responsible for properly and completely logging all shift activity information. Work Schedule: 35 day rotating shifts - Rotating shifts to cover plant operations (ensuring 24 hour/7 day week coverages) to include weekdays, weekend, and holidays. (Work hours will be further discussed during interview) Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD90137A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): This occupation is approved for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive (CSI). Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI. The amount of lump sum CSI is determined based on appointment date and may be pro-rated as determined by the end date of the CSI. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/29/2024. 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: Dexterity and SafetyEquipment Assembly, Installation, RepairInterpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)Measuring InstrumentsOperation of Equipment/MachineryTechnical PracticesWithout 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. Physical Requirements: Requires moderate to heavy physical exertion while lifting, carrying, handling, moving, pulling, pushing, transporting or setting up; equipment, ladders, materials, parts, scaffolds, tools etc. (up to 100 lbs) unaided or assisted. Works from catwalks, ground level, ladders, platforms, scaffolds, or hard-to-reach places requiring climbing, reaching over and under while in cramped, awkward, tiering 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 Plan Operators will receive annual physical to ensure they are physically fit to perform the assigned duties. Working Conditions: The employee generally works indoors in an adequately- lighted, ventilated and heated space; is under the general supervision of the Operations Supervisor who makes oral or written assignments related to changes in established practices. Regularly works alone in a remote and restricted access area. Regularly works outside the environmentally control space and 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

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address St Cloud VA Medical Center 4801 Veterans Drive St Cloud, MN 56303 US
• Name: Meghan Brooks
• Phone: 515-699-5999 X23402
• Email: [email protected]