Air Conditioner Equipment Operator

About the role

The incumbent serves as an A/C Equipment Operator responsible for the operation, monitoring, and adjustment of central plant systems including high-pressure steam boilers, large-capacity centrifugal chillers, and building automation systems. Work involves continuous monitoring of critical infrastructure supporting a major medical center with 24/7 patient care operations.

The position requires rotating shift work including nights, weekends, and holidays to ensure uninterrupted plant operations.

What you will do

• The employee operates, monitors, and adjusts major central utility plant systems including high-pressure steam boilers, centrifugal chillers, pumping systems, and digital building automation systems (BAS).
• Central Plant Equipment Operation Operates four high-pressure Cleaver-Brooks steam boilers and four centrifugal chillers (Trane CVHF and York YK models).
• Monitors steam pressure, temperatures, water levels, chiller suction/discharge pressures, condenser/evaporator temperatures, and electrical load measurements.
• Starts, stops, and transitions boilers and chillers based on facility load and energy efficiency requirements.
• System Monitoring & Adjustments Uses BAS interfaces and control panels to maintain optimal operation of steam and chilled water systems.
• Responds to alarms and abnormal conditions, performing corrective actions within operator authority.
• Performs routine mechanical room walkthroughs to verify equipment status and identify potential issues.
• Water Treatment & Basic Maintenance Conducts boiler and chilled water chemical testing; applies appropriate chemical treatment to maintain safe operating conditions.
• Performs routine maintenance including lubrication, filter changes, minor adjustments, and PM tasks.
• Maintains operator logs, system readings, and CMMS entries for shift activities.
• Emergency Operations & Communication Responds to boiler or chiller failures, utility outages, BAS alarms, fire events, and urgent medical center utility demands.
• Executes emergency shutdowns or transitions in accordance with established protocols.
• Provides verbal and written turnover reports to ensure continuity across 24/7 operations.
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance Follows VA, EPA, OSHA, and Joint Commission safety standards.
• Participates in safety drills and maintains required training/certifications applicable to assigned duties.
• Uses required PPE and follows lockout/tagout and confined space procedures.
• Work Schedule: Rotating shifts 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and 11:00 pm to 11:00 am.
• Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need.
• Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioner Equipment Operator/PD114490 and PD114490 Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
• Physical Requirements: Work requires frequent walking throughout the facility, climbing ladders to access elevated equipment, working in confined spaces, and performing maintenance tasks in various positions.
• Visual acuity is required for reading gauges, meters, and computer displays.
• Manual dexterity is necessary for operating controls and performing maintenance tasks.

Requirements

• 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 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.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents you must provide

• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
• Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
• You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
• Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply.
• Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
• Applications are accepted online.
• Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

What to expect next

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

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. 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.