USA Staffing

Position Title: Boiler Plant Operator
Agency: Veterans Health Administration
Announcement Number: CBSR-12745377-25-HYC Opens in new window
Open Period: Friday, June 6, 2025 to Wednesday, June 11, 2025

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

1. Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?

If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.

A. Yes, I am considered a political appointee as described under 5 U.S.C. sections 5312 through 5316.

B. Yes, I am considered a Non-career Senior Executive Service (SES), Limited Term SES, Limited Emergency SES Executive Branch employee.

C. Yes, I am considered a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or appointee who served in a political capacity under agency-specific authority in the Executive Branch.

D. Yes, I am considered a political appointee in the Executive Branch (as described in a., b. or c above) in a covered position in an agency having an interchange agreement with OPM, which allows movement from the agency's system to the competitive civil service.

E. None of the above. I am not considered a current or recent (last 5 years) political appointee as described above in items a, b, c, or d.

Your resume must be submitted in English and include the following information for each job listed:

Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages or encrypted, and digitally signed documents linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.

By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).

Assessment 1

Thank you for your interest in a Boiler Plant Operator position with the Department of Veterans Administration. We will evaluate your resume and your responses to this assessment questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit this questionnaire.

1. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: The screen-out elements are the critical knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential for satisfactory job performance. Applicants must receive a minimum of two points on the screen-out element(s) to be deemed eligible for consideration.

From the descriptions below, select the appropriate response based on your level of experience, education, and/or training, that you fully possess and that demonstrates your ability to perform the Boiler Plant Operator duties without more than normal supervision. Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

A. I have the ability to perform the most difficult and complex tasks related to installing and or repairing piping systems according to drawings or manufacturer specifications; reading electrical schematic drawings; and taking readings of combustion information, gauge pressures, and water properties & levels. I am skilled with installing and or repairing piping systems according to drawings or manufacturer specifications; reading electrical schematic drawings; and taking readings of combustion information, gauge pressures, and water properties & levels. (NOTE: Must list your experience on your resume)

B. I have the ability to perform the full range of tasks related to installing and or repairing piping systems according to drawings or manufacturer specifications; reading electrical schematic drawings; and taking readings of combustion information, gauge pressures, and water properties & levels. I am skilled in installing and or repairing piping systems according to drawings or manufacturer specifications; reading electrical schematic drawings; and taking readings of combustion information, gauge pressures, and water properties & levels. I work on my own initiative under general supervision subject to occasional inspection. (NOTE: Must list your experience on your resume)

C. I have the ability to perform common tasks related to installing and or repairing piping systems according to drawings or manufacturer specifications; reading electrical schematic drawings; and taking readings of combustion information, gauge pressures, and water properties & levels. I work under normal supervision of a work leader or journey-level employee who observes tasks in progress and upon completion to make sure they are properly performed. (NOTE: Must list your experience on your resume)

D. I have the ability to perform simple tasks related to installing and or repairing piping systems according to drawings or manufacturer specifications; reading electrical schematic drawings; and taking readings of combustion information, gauge pressures, and water properties & levels OR I have received training on installing and or repairing piping systems according to drawings or manufacturer specifications; reading electrical schematic drawings; and taking readings of combustion information, gauge pressures, and water properties & levels. (NOTE: Must list your experience on your resume)

E. No, I do not possess the abilities described above.

2. Work Schedule
The work schedule and pay, at the VA, is based on a bi-weekly system.
Please select all the work schedule that you are willing to accept.

A. Week 1: Friday-Wednesday 6:00am-6:00pm. Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm; Week 2: Off

B. Week 1: Friday-Wednesday 12:00am-12:00pm. Thursday 12:00am-8:00pm; Week 2: Off

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES. This section evaluates your knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. For each task below, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Be sure your resume/application supports your selection.

Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.

3. Monitors and or tests the operation of boiler systems in order to identify malfunctions.

A. I know little or nothing about this.

B. I have had study or training in this.