Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

Description:

*** Recruitment & Relocation Incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. ***

This position is located in the Maintenance and Operations Section of the Engineering Service at VA Iowa Health Care System - Des Moines VA Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is responsible for installing, operating, controlling, maintaining, and repairing various Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HAVC/R) systems and supporting equipment.

Requirements:

PHYSICAL EFFORT: The employee frequently carries and sets up parts and equipment that weighs up to 50 pounds. Hoists. holders, and pulleys arc operated when removing units such as large compressors, condensers, and chillers. The employee makes repairs and installation from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms where the parts of the system worked on are frequently in hard-to-reach places; therefore, frequently stretching, bending, and kneeling long periods of time.

WORKING CONDITIONS: The employee usually works inside but is occasionally required to work outside on top of tall buildings during periods of inclement weather, in drafty attic spaces, and in cramped areas with low overheads. Uncomfortable facemasks and protective clothing may be occasionally worn when there is a possibility of exposure to hazards, such as toxic refrigerants when making emergency repairs. The employee is subject to cuts, bums, electrical shocks, and respiratory ailments. Exposure is concentrated amounts of refrigerant gases may cause toxic effects to eyes, skin, and internal origins.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications . For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Technical Practices
• Troubleshooting
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision

AND

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability, or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirement for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.

• The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: A valid Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Technician Certification (Type I, II, and III or Universal Certification) through an EPA approved technician program, in accordance with Section 608 of the Clean Air Act (NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of the certification with your application, or you will not be considered.)

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.