Summary This position serves as an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic within the Facilities Management Department, Maintenance and Operations Section at the VA Health Care Center St. Cloud, MN. The candidate is responsible for performing maintenance and repair to air conditioning units, air handling units, walk-in coolers, ice making machines, refrigerated tray carts, and such other equipment and/or systems as may be assigned. Responsibilities As a Journeyman AC Equipment Mechanic, work at this level involves installing, recognizing the cause of faulty equipment, and making repairs on large systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning and filtering for comfort cooling and heating. Responsible to install, maintain and make regularly scheduled preventive maintenance inspections of HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) equipment located throughout the station. Servicing equipment which includes various types of air conditioning units, chillers, and air handling units, walk-in coolers and freezers, refrigerators, freezers, water coolers, ice making machines, geothermal energy systems and subsystems, and such other equipment and/or systems as may be assigned. Responsible to identify repairs needed to all system components such as compressors, motors, belts, condensers and cooling coils, receivers, fans, piping, valves, driers, controls, pumps, pump couplings, and filters. May be required to complete sheet metal work and duct fabrication. Installing and maintaining both large and small refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Knowledge in the use and programming of Building Controls and Automations Systems-CMMS - Computerized Maintenance Management System, and associated controls such as DDC (direct digital control), BMS systems such as Johnson Controls Metasys, and the use of the HVAC/R computer or laptop to monitor and make adjustments to programing of systems and equipment as may be required to monitor and maintain proper operation. Required to set or make adjustments to building air handling equipment and subsystems schedules; and programing for occupied/unoccupied modes, auto-zero of dampers, economization, system setbacks, and proportional -integral-derivative controllers, programmable logic controllers. Mechanic is responsible for the acknowledgement of, and corrective actions to, alarm situations that occur within the building automation network. Working knowledge of the operation and maintenance to air conditioning and refrigeration equipment gained from journeyman level work in the performance of construction, maintenance, and repair work. Capable of installing, modifying and performing repairs and retrofits to all equipment. Responsible for conducting highly complex troubleshooting for walk-in-coolers; freezers; air conditioning systems; heating and chilled water closed loop systems, direct expansion systems, and a working knowledge and a fundamental understanding of geothermal systems, automation and control of such system and subsystems that incorporate AHU's, heating and cooling loops and seasonal automation and control. Inspects, maintains and repairs various brands of pneumatic temperature controls on equipment. Orders, installs and adjusts all parts to keep pneumatic controls in good operating condition. Knowledge of electronic devices such as power supplies, motor starters, V.F.D's, actuators, V.A.V. boxes, and microprocessors is also required. Maintains hydronic systems such as; heating and cooling systems and associated piping, control, pumps and water quality management for freeze protection. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD90174A Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Bargaining Unit Position: Yes, AFGE-1272 The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. EPA CERTIFICATION: In accordance with 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, EPA, people working in this type of position must have and maintain proper EPA Certifications for working with refrigerants. You must have these EPA Certification Types I, II and III in order to meet the requirements of this position. 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. (Includes Blueprint Reading) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc. Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Troubleshooting 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. Education Additional Information Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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 OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving 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 employee's 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.