Boiler Plant Operator

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of this position is to work as a Boiler Plant Operator in the boiler plant at the Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, NY.

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

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, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire.

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 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 Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc.

(Other Than Blueprint Reading) Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc. Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc.

Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments 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.

Major Duties:

Duties include but not limited to: The position will be responsible for operating, start, operating, adjusting, stop, maintaining, and performing various operational repairs on single or multiple fuel power boilers and associated auxiliary and facility monitoring systems in the boiler plant.

Steam boilers operated at this level are fired by natural gas and oil to produce steam to meet changing load demands in the facility.

Boilers require constant attention to maintain efficiency and control the formation of pollutants.

The position will maintain efficient combustion levels and ensure compliance with a multitude of regulatory compliance agencies for the safe reliable production of steam.

Through the use of manual, automatic, or microprocessor controls or computer monitoring control systems. The position will monitor, adjust, and control all phases of boiler plant operations.

The position will use 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.

The position will operate, repair, adjust, and maintain auxiliary equipment such as electrical safety devices, forced and induced draft fans, air compressors, deaerating equipment, feed water heaters, economizers, fuel heaters and delivery equipment, demineralizing systems.

The position will adjust fuel feeds and the volume and velocity of draft and other fire box variables to achieve maximum combustion efficiency with changing load demands or variations in fuel quality.

The position will regularly observe and note readings on gauges, meters, detectors, recorders, boiler water level indicators, and computer generated and analog displays to detect danger signals in operations.

The position will determine the treatment and chemicals to be used to control chemical concentrations, remove impurities and entrapped gases, or stabilize fluctuating water conditions in the boiler.

The position will be required to maintain precise control over the quality or purity of steam produced.

The position will check the operation of safety equipment such as flame extinction, automatic reignition, and low water cut-outs, high pressure cut-outs, and purge type combustion safety.

The position will perform operational maintenance (e.g., lubricate equipment and power clean water tubes) and repairs of limited to moderate complexity (e.g., replace or repair valves, gauges, and pumps) on mechanical parts and systems and may be required to perform limited or basic electrical repairs.

The position will monitor emergency electrical generator systems, HVAC systems, medical gas systems, and facility temperature control system computers located in the boiler plant control room.

The position may work in conjunction with electric power controllers in starting and stopping steam generating units and auxiliary electrical equipment in accordance with electrical load requirements.

Operate systems of extremely large and flexibility include operation maintenance and repair of high-pressure multiple fuel water tube and fire tube boilers and associated auxiliary control equipment.

Position serves as a full journeyman level in operating, maintaining and repairing high pressure steam boilers and associated equipment. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 4:00pm to 12:00am (2nd Shift); Requires weekend work schedule changes every 4 weeks to weekend working Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD11533A Physical Requirements: The position will frequently work in confined areas in and around boilers and support equipment.

The work requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching.

The position frequently will lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds) unassisted and occasionally items weighing over 18 kilograms (40 pounds) with assistance of other workers or weight handling equipment.