Summary This Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic position is within the Facilities Management Service at the Providence VA Healthcare System, located in Providence, Rhode Island. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. A recruitment incentive of up to 15% has been approved for selected applicants. Further details will be discussed during the onboarding process. Responsibilities The incumbent performs a wide range of work involving installing and recognizing the cause of faulty refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and making repairs on large systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering, and circulating. Duties include, but are not limited to: Calculates airflow and the pressure-temperature characteristics for different systems; Performs complex repairs such as installing and fitting connecting rods, crank shafts, piston rings, bearings and bushings; Replaces gaskets, springs, floats, diaphragms, valve fittings, seals, and couplings; Checks out the refrigeration cycle of a variety of commercial and industrial systems; Examines equipment components visually and audibly for the probability of leaks; Performs prescribed test procedures, and explores probable reasons for equipment failure; Aligns motors and flywheel drives; Identifies faulty equipment causes and makes repairs on large systems; and Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Two positions available on 1st shift (Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm) and one position available for either 2nd shift (3:00pm-11:30pm) OR 3rd shift (11:00pm-7:30am). Rotating shifts may include weekends and holidays. Tour of duty will be discussed during the interview process. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD650-00230-A Recruitment Incentive: A recruitment incentive of up to 15% has been approved for selected applicants. Further details will be discussed during the onboarding process Notifications: This position is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications 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: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Inspect Troubleshooting Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires carrying of equipment, tools and testing devices that often weight as much as 50 pounds. Frequently motors and equipment components weigh several hundred pounds and are located in difficult to access locations that require significant maneuvering and require hoists, holders and rigging. Most of the equipment can be reached from the floor or from ladders. Occasionally, platforms, man lifts and scaffolding are needed to reach parts of the system such as fans, electrical and water lines and duct work. The incumbent is required to stoop, stretch, bend, kneel and work in tiring and uncomfortable position. Working Conditions: Much of the work is usually performed inside, but the incumbent is frequently subject to sudden temperature changes when working on equipment such as walk-in freezer units. Many of the larger air handling units, air cooled condensing units, cooling towers and the smaller split system condensing units are either on roof tops or outside on the ground subjecting the incumbent to the fierce New England weather. They are occasionally subject to cuts, bums, electrical shocks, and respiratory ailments; and exposed to repeated, prolonged or concentrated amounts of refrigerant gases that may cause toxic effects on eyes, skin, and internal organs. There is an occasional requirement to work in drafty attic spaces and in cramped areas with low overheads. Education Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. 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/. 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.