Boiler Plant Operator
Job Location:
Butler, WI - USA
Hourly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The Boiler Plant Operator (BPO) is assigned to the Utility Plant in Facilities Management Service at the Butler VA Medical Center. The Boiler Plant Operator is responsible for the maintenance repair and safe operation of two Keeler gas/oil combination boilers Models 14860-3 NB4601 and 14860-1 producing steam capacity of 20000LBS/HR each; and one Unilux gas/oil combination boiler model ZF1200HS producing steam capacity of 9918
LBS/HR.
Work Schedule: 8 Hour Rotating shifts every 6/7 days - 21 Turn (Shifts include)
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD024960
Major Duties Include but not limited to:
- Monitor hospital alarms for various systems and engineering control systems.
- Test and analyze water used by the various machines.
- Promote a spirit of cooperation and understanding and exercise a high degree of judgment and self-initiative to cope with unexpected conditions or emergencies which may arise during tour of duty.
- Responsible for the maintenance repair and safe operation of two Keeler gas/oil combination boilers Models 14860-3 NB4601 and 14860-1 producing steam capacity of 20000LBS/HR each; and one Unilux gas/oil combination boiler model ZF1200HS producing steam capacity of 9918 LBS/HR. The BPO monitors facility alarms and engineering systems management alarms using systems knowledge and judgment to properly notify appropriate response personnel in a timely manner. Operates the boiler plant to maintain efficient combustion levels and ensures compliance with air pollution laws or regulations.
- Use electronic hydraulic mechanical and pneumatic controls in conjunction with meters gauges and computer-generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.
- 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. - Operate emergency electrical generator to meet plant electrical requirements.
- Responsible for testing and analyzing boiler feed water boiler water and condensate return water using standard chemical tests. The testing is necessary to 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 to protect systems and equipment. - Test adjust maintain and repair boiler safety devices such as flame safeguard pressure switches limit switches timers water column safety devices electric/electronic probes and sensors steam safety valves and automatic/manual fuel valves.
- Visually inspects boiler settings and refractory linings for signs of deterioration and failure due to heat stress.
- Use manual automatic semi-automatic microprocessor controls or systems to monitor adjust and control all phases of boiler plant operations.
- Use electronic hydraulic and pneumatic controls charts recorders meters gauges and computer-generated data to determine adjustments or corrections necessary for proper boiler operations or changing load requirements.
- Use tools such as manometers multi-meters combustion analyzers test gauges infrared thermometer to maintain calibrate and repair safety devices.
- Operate adjust maintain and repair auxiliary plant equipment.
- Repair troubleshoot and maintain boilers and auxiliary equipment. Auxiliary equipment may include fuel delivery systems de-aerating equipment water treatment equipment and air compressors that often require regular adjustment and maintenance to meet rigid
tolerances. - Monitor and test the operation of boiler systems in order to identify malfunctions and potential problems.
- Perform preventative scheduled and emergency maintenance on equipment including boiler feed water pumps fuel oil pumps air
compressors automatic controls valves piping pumps plant electrical systems and related components and other boiler plant systems. - Maintain burner management control systems including electronic and electro-mechanical controls utilizing ultra-violet and
related testing devices. The devices repaired and maintained are characterized by electrical mechanical pneumatic hydraulic and/or electronic systems with interrelated functions that require the incumbent to deal with all aspects of an integrated assembly to successfully complete work on any of the components. Items serviced are characterized by a variety of data-sensing units computing assemblies actuating mechanisms display indicators and related controls that are collectively combined and integrated into a complete unit of information gathering devices. - Uses broad experience and specialized knowledge of electrical mechanical pneumatic and/or hydraulic theory and a working knowledge of electronics to diagnose isolate and repair malfunctions and to achieve and maintain critical accuracies sensitivity levels and precise tolerances in aligning and adjusting complex instrument systems components and mechanisms. Incumbent works from manufacturers technical information sources and operating instructions that may be vague or incomplete.
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
- Subject to a background/suitability investigation
- Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- A complete application package; including Resume Transcripts etc. is required
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
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:
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: Requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking standing climbing bending and crouching. Occasionally works from scaffolds and platforms and may perform strenuous work. Frequently lifts and carries tools and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
Occasionally required to handle items that weigh more than 50 pounds with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers. Must possess sufficient strength to be able to open/close large valves including those located overhead.
Must be able to enter physically and mentally a 12 x 16 manhole to access boiler confined spaces.
Must have ability to assess equipment /system operating conditions during all hours in often remote locations while working alone and respond with sound judgment and ingenuity to stressful situations. Ability to always maintain a high degree of mental alertness and concentration for up to twelve hours at a time.
Working Conditions: Mainly works indoors but occasionally works outside for short periods of time. Subject to high temperatures constant noise rotating machinery soot dirt grease chemicals oil and fumes. Subject to cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and burns from acids caustics hot water steam and contact with boilers.
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Beginning September 27 2025 Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge skills abilities and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.
Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF JPG JPEG PNG RTF TXT PDF ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato if available. Other widely available options are Calibri Helvetica Arial Verdana Open San Source Sans Pro Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) for more information.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPMs Career Transition Resources website which can be found at 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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 or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn 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.
Required Experience:
IC
