- Position Title
- Boiler Plant Operator
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBTD-12747797-25-JN Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Tuesday, June 10, 2025 to Friday, August 15, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
2.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the Department of Veterans Affairs? If yes, confirm:
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
Preferences
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.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
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.
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).
2.
I authorize my application information being shared with hiring managers for similar positions. I understand this option may not result in further consideration for additional positions nor will it impact my application for this announcement.
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Boiler Plant Operator position with the Department of Veterans Affairs. We will evaluate your resume and responses to this questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification and must be fully supported by your resume and supporting documents as we may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
Please select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of experience and education that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience and education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
Do you possess the Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision? The incumbent must have a journeyman's knowledge of the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers and their auxiliary equipment and controls. Specifically, they must be familiar with performing the following functions:
Must be familiar with pneumatic and direct digital controls and their operation on equipment used in boiler controls.
Must have knowledge of boiler construction and know the characteristics of all associated boiler equipment.
Must know how to start up idle boilers and equipment so as to get them operational in emergency situations in a timely manner.
Must know how to take samples of the boiler feed water and test them for the proper level of chemical additives.
Must know how to adjust the level of the chemicals that are fed into the boiler water to achieve the proper operating levels based upon the results of these tests.
Must know how to switch from operation on natural gas, the primary fuel, to fuel oil and back again. Must have knowledge of sounding fuel oil tanks, receiving deliveries of oil, and putting information in the log book.
Must know the techniques for lining up fuel oil systems to take action from the fuel tanks, and the procedures for shifting fuel oil from one tank to another.
Must have a working knowledge of plumbing, steam fitting and electricity.
Must be intimately familiar with the proper lock out/tag out systems that are used on the boilers to isolate all the various energy sources while working on boiler and equipment maintenance.
Must have the ability to interpret drawings, manuals and technical guides, and lay out work as necessary.
Must have a journeyman's knowledge of the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers ad their auxiliary equipment and controls.
Must be able to use the proper tools for boiler and associated equipment maintenance, including the instrumentation used to measure or rectify a situation to keep boilers and equipment operating in a safe and proper manner.
Must be able to perform minor repairs and make adjustments to instruments so as to operate in a safe and efficient manner.
Must physically capable of lifting of up to 50 pounds is required as is the ability to walk and climb stairs as a great amount of the time required to conduct readings on equipment throughout all levels of the boiler plant.
Must be familiar with pneumatic and direct digital controls and their operation on equipment used in boiler controls.
Must have knowledge of boiler construction and know the characteristics of all associated boiler equipment.
Must know how to start up idle boilers and equipment so as to get them operational in emergency situations in a timely manner.
Must know how to take samples of the boiler feed water and test them for the proper level of chemical additives.
Must know how to adjust the level of the chemicals that are fed into the boiler water to achieve the proper operating levels based upon the results of these tests.
Must know how to switch from operation on natural gas, the primary fuel, to fuel oil and back again. Must have knowledge of sounding fuel oil tanks, receiving deliveries of oil, and putting information in the log book.
Must know the techniques for lining up fuel oil systems to take action from the fuel tanks, and the procedures for shifting fuel oil from one tank to another.
Must have a working knowledge of plumbing, steam fitting and electricity.
Must be intimately familiar with the proper lock out/tag out systems that are used on the boilers to isolate all the various energy sources while working on boiler and equipment maintenance.
Must have the ability to interpret drawings, manuals and technical guides, and lay out work as necessary.
Must have a journeyman's knowledge of the operation and maintenance of high pressure boilers ad their auxiliary equipment and controls.
Must be able to use the proper tools for boiler and associated equipment maintenance, including the instrumentation used to measure or rectify a situation to keep boilers and equipment operating in a safe and proper manner.
Must be able to perform minor repairs and make adjustments to instruments so as to operate in a safe and efficient manner.
Must physically capable of lifting of up to 50 pounds is required as is the ability to walk and climb stairs as a great amount of the time required to conduct readings on equipment throughout all levels of the boiler plant.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
2.
Uses electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls, and zone charts in conjunction with meters, gauges, and computer-generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.
3.
Monitors and tests the operation of high pressure boiler systems in order to identify malfunctions and potential problems with equipment such as automatic controls, valves, electrostatic precipitators, lime slurry systems, piping, pumps, and related components.
4.
Performs operational maintenance (e.g. lubricate equipment and power clean water tubes) and repairs of limited complexity on mechanical parts and systems and may be required to perform limited or basic electrical repairs.
5.
Uses the proper tools for boiler and associated equipment maintenance, including the instrumentation.
6.
Takes samples of the boiler feed water and test them for the proper level of chemical additives. Based upon the results of these tests, adjusts the level of the chemicals that are fed into the boiler water to achieve the proper operating levels.
7.
Performs preventative and scheduled maintenance on plant systems and equipment including boiler feed pumps, fuel oil pumps, air compressors, turbines, generators, boiler fixtures, and combustion fans.
8.
Installs, maintains, and repairs a variety of complex equipment and systems involving high pressure steam (HPS) generating boilers with complicated components, critical requirements, and rigid tolerances.
9.
Provides comprehensive control and operational readiness of all high-pressure steam boilers supplying the main hospital and all outlying support structures.
10.
Operates and maintains high pressure boilers and their auxiliary equipment controls.
11.
Starts up any boiler, and bring it to the state where it can take its share of the load.
12.
Executes proper boiler blow down procedures and the proper soot blowing procedures.
13.
Operates medical center fire safety codes.
14.
Sets up fire watches till the alarm situation is rectified.
15.
Calls in vendors to perform corrective procedures to get buildings out of alarm status.
16.
Performs work involving plumbing, steam fitting, and electricity.
17.
Makes electrical repairs by removing and replacing defective parts.
18.
Reads and interprets drawings, manuals, and technical guides and lays out work as necessary.
Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed: 1) Job title 2) Duties (be as detailed as possible) 3) Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) 4) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) 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.