Boiler Plant Operator
Job Location:
Little Rock, AR - USA
Hourly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The position is in the Maintenance and Operations Section Boiler Plant of Engineering Service at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) Little Rock Arkansas. Boilers are operated by natural gas fuel oil and propane gas or combination of those fuels to produce steam to meet changing load demands. Boilers require constant attention to maintain efficiency and control the formation of pollutants.
Major duties include but not limited to:
Starts operates monitors adjusts and shuts down multiple-fuel boiler systems medical-waste disposal systems and related plant equipment to ensure safe reliable operation.
Performs preventive and operational maintenance on boilers pumps motors Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) air compressors fans valves dampers steam traps tanks controls and water-treatment equipment.
Monitors boiler plant operations through manual automatic and microprocessor-based control systems; interprets gauges meters detectors recorders zone charts and computer-generated data to identify and correct abnormal operating conditions.
Adjusts fuel feeds combustion air draft furnace conditions and other firebox variables to maintain efficient combustion and meet changing load requirements and fuel-quality variations.
Maintains compliance with applicable air-pollution laws and regulations by operating and maintaining pollution-control equipment and monitoring combustion efficiency and emissions-related controls.
Tests and analyzes feedwater boiler water and condensate; determines appropriate chemical treatment and adds chemicals to control concentrations remove impurities and gases and maintain required steam quality.
Performs Boiler Efficiency Institute (BEI) testing and verifies proper operation of boiler safety devices alarms interlocks pressure switches safety valves fuel shutoff systems flame scanners and combustion controls.
Diagnoses and completes limited-to-moderate mechanical and electrical repairs including repairing or replacing pumps valves gauges sight glasses belts packing wiring switches relays fuses contactors controls and associated equipment.
Maintains accurate computerized and paper records of boiler plant operations service and emergency calls maintenance actions medical-waste processing and safety documentation; coordinates after-hours service dispatches and emergency elevator-rescue communications.
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/PD04516A
Physical Requirements: The position frequently works 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. Will frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies
weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted and occasionally items weighing over 40 pounds without assistance of other workers or weight handling equipment. Makes repairs from ladders scaffolding and platforms to reach equipment in out-of-the-way places. When working on ladders and scaffolds must be able to climb and carry tools and materials.
Working Conditions: Works indoors and occasionally works outside for short periods where they are subject to prevailing weather conditions. Subject to high temperatures constant noise rotating machinery soot dirt grease chemicals oil and fumes in the work area. Subject to strains cuts eye damage/irritation bruises infection and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and burns from acids caustics hot water steam and contact with piping and addition they work on catwalks and ladders. Work is at heights and/or in close quarters as each assignment dictates to accomplish the work in the physical plant. Required to use appropriate personal protective equipment. Works around operating equipment steam tunnels manholes and mechanical rooms. The plant and building contain hazardous chemicals that require special handling procedures and protection.
- 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.
- A pre-employment physical is required.
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.
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.
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:
- 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.
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
