Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Leader

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Facilities Management Service, Operations, in the Energy Section at the VA Portland Medical Center.

The incumbent is responsible for the unique requirements of the medical center for the continued supply, 24/7 of vital utilities including, medical gasses, heat, air-conditioning and water.

The incumbent leads a staff of five (5) WG-10 AC Mechanics, and six (6) WG-10 Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanics.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,02/18/2026.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position.

Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element.

Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated.

The ability to do the work of an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Leader without more than normal supervision in performing the full range of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment repair.

Related experience includes perform and document preventive maintenance and safety inspections on instruments and devices; install low voltage circuits from control panels to dampers, valves, sensors, thermostats and other typical end devices found in building automation systems; working as a journeyman in the installation, operation, repair and maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment; knowledgeable in the principles and theories of air conditioning, refrigeration and heat transfer; able to select, maintain and safely use the tools, measuring equipment, testing devices and instruments related to the heating, ventilation, air condition and refrigeration (HVAC/R) trade; install, maintain and repair 480-volt motors, variable frequency drives, motor start components and transformers; able to read from blue prints and diagrams when performing tasks.

Note: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Certification Requirement (Screen-Out): In accordance with Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, this position requires a current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Universal Certification.

Applicants who do not meet this requirement are ineligible for further consideration.

The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Troubleshooting Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Position requires infrequent lifting of up to 50 lbs. Although there is frequent walking, stooping and bending involved in the work, it is not constant.

Uses ladders frequently in hard to reach places, stooping, stretching, bending and kneeling are frequently for longer periods of time.

Working Conditions: The incumbent will be called onto work day, swing and graveyard shifts so workload may be accomplished.

There is constant exposure to caustic chemicals, hot metal surfaces, extremely environmentally adverse conditions and the danger of scalding liquids and steam.

While most of the hazards are contained or protective equipment is available, there are occasions of extreme exposure (such as cleaning interior boiler surfaces) when contamination cannot be totally eliminated.

Major Duties:

Incumbent is the system administrator, programmer, installer and troubleshooting mechanic for the medical centers centralized environmental monitoring and control systems (EMCS).

This is a journeyman level electrical position.

Incumbent applies a complete, comprehensive knowledge of the operations, operational maintenance and repair program of a high-pressure steam-generating plant on a continual basis (e.g., multi-fuel fired power boilers, all boiler safety devices, all associated auxiliary equipment, pollution control equipment, piping systems, control systems, burner management systems with interlocks, water treatment, and fuel systems).

The incumbent must have the ability to install, program and maintain the Direct Digital Control (DDC) system of the Medical Center.

This position supports the medical centers project team by installing DDC, HVAC equipment and high voltage components such as motor starters, motors and variable speed drives Must understand where various components fit into the system and at what levels.

Must be able to interpret building blueprints, shop drawings and do shop math required for piping layouts.

Must be able to calibrate, repair and maintain such equipment as feed water level regulators; reducing valves; draft motors; linkage levers and rods.

Must be knowledgeable in principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration, such as; heat transfer laws, refrigeration cycles, pressure temperature relationships, etc., to determine where the above mentioned systems are failing and how to effect corrective action.

Must be able to use psychometric charts.

Must be skilled and knowledgeable in balancing the very complex heating, ventilating, air conditioning and smoke control systems using computer control and, where necessary, making manual adjustments.

Incumbent installs maintains and repairs 480 volt motors, variable frequency drives, motor start component's as well as transformers. Programs and maintains 214 Variable frequency drives.

The incumbent is responsible to modify and balance and pressure cascades for 15 operating rooms, 2 level 3 biological safety laboratories (BSL3), 61 Level 2 Biological safety laboratories, 3 animal research facilities, a large nuclear medicine suites, 16 Patient Isolation rooms, 2 sterile processing facilities, 3 dental facilities, and numerous other space typically found in a large modern hospital.

The incumbent is responsible for record keeping and proof of compliance to numerous auditing agencies.

The incumbent leads the HVAC mechanics in the maintenance of 23 walk-in cold boxes and freezers, as well as a walk-in incubator.

The incumbent is responsible for leading the maintenance and controls for the Portland Central Chiller Plant which has 4 650 ton central chillers as well as smaller chillers and plate and frame heat exchangers attached.

The incumbent leads the Energy Section which is the first responders to all emergencies in the VAPORHCS.

The energy section receives initial calls and dispatches/responds to fire, flooding, hazmat spills, equipment failure.

The section maintains all applicable response protocols and has reporting responsibility for all adverse events, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 6:00 am - 3:30 pm PST Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Leader/PD21280-A ???????Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.