Job Description

Boiler Plant Operator

This position is located in the Engineering Service of the VA Medical Center in Little Rock, AR.

Opening and closing dates: 07/15/2025 to 07/22/2025

Salary: $27.21 - $31.76 per hour

Location: 1 vacancy in Little Rock, AR

Work schedule: Full-time

Service: Competitive

Job family (Series): 5402 Boiler Plant Operating

Announcement number: CARZ-12765317-25-CMB

Control number: 840732500

Duties

Training in operations of both the boiler plant and wastewater treatment plant: how to prepare the boiler for inspections and safety testing, the process of switching over from one fuel source to another (gas to oil), how to re-start the plant from a loss of power, the proper steps in switching softeners and regeneration of softener, lock out tag out procedures associated with plant operations, testing of boiler water and condensate return water, and the proper procedures of sounding fuel oil tanks and sounding alarms;

Starting, securing, regulating, stopping, and performing routine operator maintenance on the boiler and other equipment;

Making regular rounds of areas where machinery and equipment are located to take an record readings from draft and temperature gauges and meters, PCC 3 controllers, and steam flow transmitters;

Performing testing to determine such things as sedimentary characteristics and flow rates, adjustments for pH, and the proper amounts of chemicals to add to precipitate heavy metals;

Learning the process to take down a primary or secondary settling tank, the proper way of entering information into the daily log and recording the results of readings in standardized reports designed to meet state and Federal regulations, and how to operate the carter sludge pump and perform routine maintenance on it;

Modifying the content of water using chemical and filtration systems and maintaining the therapeutic pool as needed by testing the pool water for proper PH and chlorine levels, adding acid if needed, back-flushing sand filters, adding make up water to pool, and taking readings of water temperature and air temperature;

Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Physical Effort: Works is frequently performed in confined areas in and around boilers and support equipment, and on catwalks and ladders. The work requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing (including on concrete floors), climbing (including ladders), bending, and crouching. The employee shall frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to (50 pounds) unassisted and occasionally items weighing over (50 pounds) with assistance of other workers or weight handling equipment. Moderate physical effort is necessary to turn valves and controls.

Working Conditions: Work is performed indoors and/or outdoors, and the employee is subject to prevailing weather conditions. Workers are subject to high temperatures, constant noise, rotating machinery, soot, dirt, grease, chemicals, oil, and fumes in the work area, and is subject to cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment, and burns from acids, caustics, hot water, steam, and contact with piping and boilers. The employee is required to follow prescribed safety practices and use safety equipment such as face shields, gloves, hard-toe shoes, respirators, and protective clothing. Some of these safety items may be uncomfortable to wear and may be worn or used for long periods.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements.

Your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Additional Information

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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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 .

Benefits

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. Learn more about federal benefits.

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.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/22/2025 to receive consideration.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply

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