Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

Summary

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

If you're a current or former Federal employee, please apply to job announcement: CAZP-13030963-26-AM.

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Duties

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This Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic position is located at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI within the Utilities Group of the Facility Management Division.

Major Duties:

• Installs, replaces and repairs larger, more complex systems ranging from window air conditioners, heaters, chillers, ice/water machines, walk-in coolers, freezers, milk coolers, display cases, cold top servers, larger residential and commercial units, and other refrigeration systems in various facilities, to include hospitals, laboratories, communication centers, office buildings, and others.
• Controls complicated motors such as analog/electronic, enthalpy/econcycle, JCI Metasys/Extended Architectural interface, CRC interface as well as others new and old as used and installed by varying manufacturers.
• Analyzes and corrects troublesome conditions in the shortest possible time.
• Improvises ways and means to keep the station functioning in the event of a breakdown, until use of equipment can be restored.
• Determines the cause of the equipment malfunctions and makes the appropriate repairs.
• Discusses parts replacement with the supervisor, obtains price quotes, delivery costs and times and prepares the appropriate purchase request form for approval.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 7 AM-3:30 PM and may be required to be present to provide off-hours support for utility outages, maintenance and projects support, etc.

*The position is AWS eligible for 8 - 9 hr. days, 1 - 8 hr. day and one day off a pay period, the day off being a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

*The incumbent must comply with any EPA certifications and/or requirements. The regulations require technicians to observe practices that minimize releases of refrigerant to the environment and to be a certified technician. YOU MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR UNIVERSAL REFRIGERANT CERTIFICATION.

Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD08359A

Physical Requirements : The physical effort may be great from time to time because the equipment, system(s) are usually larger and must be maneuvered into and out of specific locations. While dismantling and reassembling, the incumbent frequently carries and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds, or if help is required, effectively communicates the need in advance if possible to the supervisor so that help can be scheduled. Hoists, holders, and pulleys may be required when removing units such as large compressors, condensers, and chillers. The incumbent may have to perform installation, and make repairs from ladders, scaffolding and platforms when the systems, parts or machines are frequently in hard to reach places. Therefore, stooping, stretching, bending, and kneeling could frequently be required for long periods of time in tiring and uncomfortable positions.

Working Conditions: The incumbent is subject to sudden temperature changes when working on equipment such as walk-in freezer units, or when required to work outside in extreme weather conditions and is occasionally subject to cuts, burns, electrical shocks, and other inherent hazards of the trade. Refrigerants are used in large amounts due to larger systems. Uncomfortable face masks and protective clothing may be worn due to exposure to repeated, prolonged or concentrated amounts of refrigerant gases may cause toxic effects to eyes, skin, and internal organs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Your resume must demonstrate experience and knowledge of principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration such as the refrigeration cycle, heat transfer laws, the use of refrigerant tables, and how to calculate air-flow, and the pressure; skill in dismantling and repairing and proper assembly of parts; knowledge of various compression methods of a variety of commercial and industrial systems to locate and check elements such as pressure and temperature; knowledge of complicated motors such as analog/electronic, JCI Metasys/Extended Architectural interface, CRC interface, in addition to other older and newer motors.

The incumbent must comply with any EPA certifications and/or requirements. The regulations require technicians to observe practices that minimize releases of refrigerant to the environment and to be a certified technician. YOU MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR UNIVERSAL REFRIGERANT CERTIFICATION.

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. T

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

If you're a current or former Federal employee, please apply to job announcement: CAZP-13030963-26-AM.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.