Utility Systems Operator

Veterans Health Administration • Reno, NV

7d

About The Position

The Utility Systems Operator operates and maintains machinery that provides heating, cooling, and ventilation at a VA Medical Center. The operator starts and stops equipment, monitors meters and safety controls, and regularly inspects meters, gauges, valves, and instruments to help ensure systems operate safely and economically.

The position involves operating and repairing two 500-horsepower and one 350-horsepower Nebraska “D” type water-tube, multi-fuel gas/oil-fired high-pressure boilers, along with related equipment. Duties also include maintaining water softeners, operating and repairing a central air-conditioning plant with 1,350 tons of electrically generated capacity, and operating the Johnson METASYS computer system that controls HVAC throughout the facility.

The operator monitors fire alarms, phones, police radios, elevator alarms, medical-gas alarms, emergency generators, and plant logs. The role includes calculating the VA Medical Center’s emergency needs during the shift and following emergency call-back and preparedness procedures. The operator also inspects the main water and natural-gas supplies for damage or leaks and performs other duties as assigned.

This is an open continuous announcement through December 14, 2026; qualified applicants may be referred as vacancies become available. The work schedule consists of rotating shifts. The role requires substantial physical effort, including carrying and positioning equipment weighing up to 100 pounds, making repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms, and stooping, bending, or kneeling for extended periods. Plant operators must pass an annual physical.

Requirements

• Evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate the ability to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
• Qualifications must be supported by detailed descriptions on the resume.
• Ability to perform the job elements: equipment assembly, installation, and repair; interpreting instructions and specifications other than blueprint reading; using measuring instruments; operating equipment and machinery; and applying technical practices without more than normal supervision.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must complete a background/suitability investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must submit a complete application package, including a resume and transcripts, as applicable.
• Selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Resume must be no more than two pages under the announcement’s stated requirements.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must be able to perform substantial physical work, including carrying and setting up equipment weighing up to 100 pounds and working from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms; stooping, bending, and kneeling may be required for extended periods.
• Must be familiar with lifting dynamics and handling heavy objects.
• Must pass an annual physical for plant operators.

Responsibilities

• Operate and repair two 500-horsepower and one 350-horsepower high-pressure water-tube boilers.
• Operate and repair boiler-related equipment, including pumps, fuel systems, valves, regulating valves, reducing stations, unit heaters, air-compressor systems, piping, tanks, and pollution-control equipment.
• Maintain water softeners and regenerate them as necessary.
• Operate and repair the central air-conditioning plant, which has 1,350 tons of electrically generated capacity.
• Operate the Johnson METASYS computer system controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning throughout the station.
• Monitor the fire alarm panel, phone, police radio, elevator alarms, medical-gas alarms, emergency generators, and plant logs.
• Calculate the VA Medical Center’s emergency needs during the shift and carry out emergency call-back and emergency-preparedness procedures.
• Inspect main water and natural-gas supplies for damage or signs of leakage.
• Start and stop equipment, monitor meters and safety controls, and inspect meters, gauges, valves, and instruments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may offer newly appointed federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward annual-leave accrual, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed