Utility Systems Operator

Full Job Description

This position reports to the Engineering Operations Supervisor of the VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas facility.

The facility is a campus type hospital on 84 acres consisting of five major patient care buildings, an accredited research facility and several outlying buildings supporting patient care and administrative services totaling 2.5 million square feet making this facility the third largest hospital in the VA Health Care system.

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: Dexterity and Safety Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Machine Tools Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Without more than normal supervision 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:

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 03, 2027 .The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 09, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks until 04/02/2027.

Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Applicants who are referred will be considered for 90 days, after 90 days applicants will have to reapply.

The incumbent serves as a journeyman Utility Systems Operator (USO) responsible for the safe operation of the Energy Center, consisting of a combined boiler and chiller plant.

If the situation dictates, the operator has the authority as acting Chief Engineer after normal hours to call in off-duty employees on an overtime basis and if the situation wan-ants, informing the supervisor, ACE/M&O and Chief Engineer of problems after-hours.

BOILER OPERATION: Starts, operates, adjusts, stops, maintains, and performs various operation repairs on the steam plant consisting of three D-type pressurized water-tube power boilers, each developing 32,000 pounds of steam per hour and a Combined Heat and Power plant consisting of a SOLAR Mercury 50 gas-turbine electrical generator producing 4.6 MW of campus electricity per hour and a RENTECH Heat Recovery Steam Generator producing 14,000 - 45,000 pounds per hour of steam for a maximum of 141,000 pounds per hour operating 110-125 psig.

Also operates all support equipment-Deaerator Tank, Condensate Storage Tanks, associated condensate and boiler feed pumps, natural gas compressor, glycol cooling system, chemical injection systems, and air-control systems.

Incumbent starts and stops equipment and regulates the steam plant and associated equipment as steam load varies.

He must anticipate load changes based on operations occurring at various times of the day such as laundry and changing weather conditions.

Incumbent continuously monitors gauges, meters, boiler water level indicators and computer control equipment and displays to detect changes in operation to keep system operating safely and efficiently.

CHILLER OPERATION: Manages two

1000-ton steam turbine-driven chiller units and four 1000- ton centrifugal chiller units in conjunction with a 3.25 million gallon chilled water thermal storage system, performing hourly checks of all operating equipment in the chiller plant, making shiftly inspections of the cooling towers and utility tunnels.

Operates a primary, secondary, tertiary chilled water pumping system, maintaining proper chilled water flows throughout the system to maintain required conditions in all zones of the Medical Center.

Operator may be required to make manual adjustments to system to maintain system efficiency and integrity.

Operates chilled water thermal storage system, making manual adjustments to system water flows and chiller cycling to maintain system capacity and efficiency.

Performs preventive and corrective maintenance on chillers, cooling towers, boilers, pumps, steam traps, and other associated equipment.

Performs major and minor repairs to equipment in accordance with VA regulations and directives, ASME boiler and pressure vessel codes, ASHRAE standards, facility policies, and good engineering practices.

FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING SY STEMS: Monitors 24/7 all hospital required emergency power systems including the fire alarm system, master medical gas alarm panel, emergency communications systems, elevator emergency call system and elevator monitoring computer for forty-two elevators campus-wide and coordinates events as required to ensure life safety measures are taken.

In the event of a fire alarm, notifies Safety, VA Police and Engineering personnel of the location of the alarm.

After-hours, notifies the VA Police, Nursing Clinical Coordinator and responds to the scene.

CENTRALIZED BULK OXGYGEN PLANT: Manages the bulk liquid oxygen (cryogenic) system,11,000 gallon primary source and 500 gallon reserve supply of medical oxygen throughout campus for direct patient care.

Manages all deliveries, performs daily inspections, monitors regulating devices, pressure gauges and recording of tank levels.

Operator manages portable bulk nitrogen supply, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide systems that directly support the surgical suites.

Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm Monday-Friday Position Description Title/PD#: Utility Systems Operator/PD00769A Physical Requirements: Frequently work in confined areas in and around boilers.

Requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching.

Frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted. Occasionally, and with assistance, carries items weighing over 40 pounds.