- Position Title
- Boiler Plant Operator
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBSU-12750223-25-RSH Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, June 18, 2025 to Thursday, June 26, 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.
Are you willing to accept the working conditions as indicated in the announcement?
3.
Are you willing to accept the conditions of employment as indicated in the announcement?
4.
Are you willing to undergo a pre-employment physical?
5.
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 WG-09 position. 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. Choose the one answer that best describes how you meet the qualification requirements as described in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement
The assessment part of the questionnaire includes questions about basic requirements and job elements related to this position.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
1.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS- Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision which includes but not limited to... operating a complex steam generation system comprised of three (3) 500 HP multi-fuel high-pressure power boilers with a total installed heat input of 63,000,000 BTU per hour (21,000,000 BTU per hour per boiler) and a total installed steam generating capacity of 51,750 pounds per hour (17,250 pounds per hour per boiler), associated auxiliary equipment and systems, flue gas recirculation systems (FGR) and related controls.
Do possess the ability to do the work of this position based on the above?
Do possess the ability to do the work of this position based on the above?
2.
Skills and abilities to operate, fire, maintain, test, troubleshoot, repair, replace, or adjust sub-systems or components of a complex steam generation system.
3.
Have knowledge of the operational phases of high-pressure power boiler operations, maintenance, repair, methods, practices, and techniques to oversee the safe and efficient production of high-pressure steam used by medical center facilities and their industrial systems and equipment.
4.
Checks of water levels and steam pressure gauge to assure valves open/close and if water needs to be added or removed or to blow off steam to maintain safe operating levels.
5.
Manages and monitors boiler plant fuel oil inventory, storage tanks, and related physical security systems.
6.
Knowledge/Skills of stationary equipment including exhaust fans, pneumatic systems, air compressors, dryers, pneumatic controls, direct digital, and parallel combustion control systems.
7.
Fires multi-fuel capable (gas/oil/propane) high-pressure power boilers requiring continuous operator attention of equipment and boiler fires to ensure proper operation.
8.
Have knowledge of boiler water treatment and water sample collecting techniques sufficient to perform chemical tests to determine alkalinity, acidity, or causticity, analyze results and calculate treatment requirements, and measure/treat boiler water with chemicals to control corrosion or scale.
9.
Have knowledge of plant layout, steam generation systems, auxiliary equipment, and control systems sufficient to quickly locate problems or trouble and determine appropriate action necessary to maintain safe and adequate steam production.
10.
Have knowledge of functions, operations, and maintenance requirements of a wide variety of flow meters, transducers, transmitters, recorders, meters, gauges, alarms, and signals.
11.
Maintains a correct and precise log of boiler plant operations, troubleshooting, repairing, and adjusting systems and equipment (including installing pumps, valves, transmitters, etc.) and logs equipment/system status changes.
12.
Diagnoses boiler plant equipment and systems malfunctions and makes appropriate adjustments or repairs to operating controls and system components.
13.
Have knowledge/Skills of stationary equipment including exhaust fans, pneumatic systems including air compressors, dryers, pneumatic controls, direct digital and PLC control systems for burner management, and parallel combustion control systems.
14.
Uses prescribed reagents, color slides, instruments, electronic meters, or other applicable standards in making determinations of chemical concentrations of the various waters.
15.
Checks trending software to ensure proper recording of boiler plant operations.
16.
Has knowledge and ability to read, write, use, and interpret a wide range of specifications, mechanical, electrical, and piping drawings, piping flow diagrams, sketches, notes, and manufacturer's documentation.
17.
Ability to use a variety of hand power tools, precision measuring tools, and instruments, and practice good operator care/maintenance.
18.
Checks of water levels and steam pressure gauge to assure valves open/close and if water needs to be added or removed or to blow off steam to maintain safe operating levels.
19.
Start/stop boilers, pumps, and related equipment, increase/decrease boiler fires, adjust/activate pressure-reducing valves, adjust fuel and water controls, monitors condensate transfer and boiler feed water pressures and adjusts pressure regulators and add/remove pumps to maintain feed water pressure, monitors flow rates, temperatures, and pressures of water, steam, air, gas, and oil.
20.
Determines and accomplishes needed replacements, repairs, or adjustments, and determines the suitability of substitutions.
21.
Operates, inspects, monitors, tests, evaluates, interprets, and troubleshoots complex boiler plant systems, subsystems, components, and devices
22.
Have knowledge, skill, and ability to operate, maintain, troubleshoot, repair/replace, or adjust sub-systems or components of a complex steam generation system.
Resume Reminder - Your resume must 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.