Utility Systems Operator

Summary

This incumbent in this position is under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Utility System Operator, part of Maintenance & Operations (M&O), Facilities Management Service located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) located in Prescott, AZ. This position's primary purpose of the operation of the boilers, chillers and primary response for emergency repairs throughout the facility for all facility maintenance items 24/7.

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Duties

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The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Alters, remodels, relocates, operates, troubleshoots, maintains, adjusts, repairs, constructs and provides design review for a modern central power plant on rotating shifts; 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Performs all work at a full range of varied and complex Engineering tasks requiring the expertise of 4 or more at the Craftsmen level and thorough knowledge of the remainder of the trades.
• Ensures continuous operations of Utilities to the Medical Center, Energy monitoring, control and conservation.
• Checks temperature sensing points in various building areas and adjust controls to meet local requirements and desires.
• Starts, regulates, and stops the various items of air handling equipment from the central computer or local switches in fan or equipment rooms.
• Starts, stops and regulates the air conditioning chillers the cooling tower fans, and other related support equipment in accordance with procedures and load conditions.
• Logs results of water condition test, dry and wet bulb temperatures, chiller oil level and oil pressure, water temperature entering and leaving condensers, volt and ampere readings, vacuum pressure, refrigerant temperature and level, high and low pressure readings, humidity, and other readings.
• Monitors combustion levels to ensure compliance with air pollution laws or regulations.
• Operates, adjusts, and maintains auxiliary and pollution control equipment, electrical or steam driven pumps, forced and induced drafts fans, air compressors, feed water heaters, economizers, fuel heaters and delivery equipment, and demineralizing systems.
• Checks the operation of safety equipment such as flame controls, low water cut-outs, high pressure cut-outs and purge type combustion safeties.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 6:00PM - 6:00AM, but tours may vary depending on the needs of the Service to include rotating days, nights, weekends and holidays.

Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Operator/PD13772A

Physical Requirements : Incumbent is required to stand, bend, stoop, kneel, climb, crawl, and work in awkward positions for prolonged periods. The incumbent handles and carries equipment, materials and tools weighing up to forty (40) pounds. Occasionally lifts and carries objects over ninety (90) pounds, with the assistance of others or lifting devices. The work can sometimes require strenuous physical exertion. All work is on a rotating shift basis, operators must be able to work all shifts 24/7/365, including evenings, nights and weekends.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.Your resume must be 5MB or less. We do not accept PDF portfolio files. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.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.

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:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Measuring Instruments
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Technical Practices
• Without more than normal supervision

Special Placement Factor : Universal EPA Certification & Drivers License

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

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.