Utility Systems Repairer-Operator

Veterans Health Administration•Saint Louis, MO

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Utility Systems Repairer-Operator at the VA St. Louis Health Care System (VASTLHCS), assigned to the Energy Plant within Facilities Engineering Services (FES) and supervised by the Energy Plant Operations Supervisor. The Energy Center includes chillers, water pumps and piping systems, rooftop package units, building pressure controls, refrigeration and HVAC systems, air handlers, and whole-building exhaust systems. The incumbent operates, repairs, and maintains boiler plant automation and building automation systems, boilers, chillers, and HVAC/R equipment throughout the Medical Center. The role also coordinates engineering responses with Medical Center administration, resolves equipment and system issues, and tracks and reports campus energy consumption and utilities. The full-performance level is WG-10. The duty station is the John Cochran Division, but may be changed to another location within the VA St. Louis Health Care System based on facility needs. This is a full-time, permanent position with a 12-hour rotating shift. The work is primarily in an industrial environment and may also take place outdoors. It involves sustained physical effort, work in tiring positions, work at heights and in confined spaces, and exposure to equipment-related and environmental hazards. A specific length of training or experience is not required; applicants must demonstrate sufficient training or experience to perform the work. No education qualification is required.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen.
Meet the position's experience standard by demonstrating training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
Provide detailed resume descriptions supporting the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties.
Demonstrate the ability to do the work without more than normal supervision.
Demonstrate the ability to interpret instructions and specifications, including blueprint reading.
Demonstrate materials, shop, and technical practices knowledge.
Demonstrate the ability to use and maintain tools and equipment and use measuring instruments.
Complete a one-year probationary period, subject to evaluation and written certification that continued employment advances the public interest.
Meet applicable pre-employment background or suitability requirements; drug testing may be required.
Meet Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
Be able to perform sustained physical work, including working from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms; standing, crouching, stooping, kneeling, or working prone for extended periods; frequently lifting, carrying, and setting up equipment weighing up to 50 pounds; and occasionally lifting items over 50 pounds and up to 100 pounds with assistance.
Work around hazards including refrigerants, fumes, boiler bursts, steam or flame blowbacks, scalding water, burns, electrical shock, temperature extremes, high noise, drafts, dampness, water, outdoor elements, ladders, catwalks, confined spaces, and possible asbestos exposure.

Responsibilities

Operate, repair, and maintain boiler plant automation and Building Automation Systems (BAS), including systems that store operating parameters and adjust systems in response to out-of-range conditions or alarms.
Repair, operate, and maintain three 1,000-horsepower boilers rated at 35,000 pounds per hour, one 350-horsepower boiler, and two 600-horsepower dual-fuel boilers operating on natural gas or oil.
Operate, maintain, and repair BAS and temperature, humidity, and volumetric controls, individually or in combination.
Diagnose, troubleshoot, modify, repair, replace, and install critical and special-purpose HVAC/R equipment and systems that provide specified climatic conditions throughout the Medical Center.
Communicate with Medical Center administration to determine and coordinate appropriate engineering responses to system issues.
Address system problems through applicable controls, equipment, electrical, pipefitting, or plumbing work, including BAS adjustments, controller sequencing, variable-frequency-drive and terminal-unit work, resetting tripped breakers, and repairing non-operational systems.
Calculate, track, document, and report energy consumption and utility use for the campus.
Draft Interim Safety Measures for critical power boilers and auxiliary boiler equipment to support safe, efficient boiler plant operation and prevent Medical Center shutdown.
Perform other related duties as assigned.