Boiler Plant Operator Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Summary
Serves as the Boiler Plant Operator Leader in Engineering Services located at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center is a complexity level 3 facility. Works under the general supervision of the Boiler Plant Operations Supervisor.
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Duties
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Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Boiler Operation and Maintenance:
  
  • Incumbent is responsible for operation and maintenance of gas-fired boilers using No. 2 oil as a standby energy source and all associated equipment such as Weishaupt burners with a forced draft blowers and variable frequency drives, electric exhaust and fresh air intake blowers/dampers with variable frequency drives, air handling unit with variable frequency drive for combustion air, electronic combustion control systems, centrifugal feed water pumps with variable frequency drives, two-element drum level regulators, a de-aerating/condensate storage tank, reverse osmosis system with a 500 gallon storage tank, Ecolab direct chemical feed system, regulatory valves, governors, low water cut-outs, flow meters, gas analyzers, two 10,000 gal. per hour capacity sodium zeolite systems and an air compressor with dryer.
• Preventive Maintenance & Repairs on Boilers and Auxiliary Equipment:
  
  • Incumbent is responsible for preventative maintenance and repairs on all boilers to include cleaning and touch up painting, making regular tests of boiler water samples, adding chemicals and blowing down boilers as necessary to maintain recommended boiler water chemical composition.
• Safety Device Testing:
  
  • Perform safety device testing as indicated in directives, manuals, standard operating procedures, ect. and maintain records of production and other data pertinent to reports as required.
  • Qualify as a Level 1 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for service.
  • Develop Statements of Work (SOW), Sole Source Justifications, and perform market research for contracts.
  • Performs boiler inspections and review project blueprints, installations, projects, inspection or contractor submittals and review of new equipment and material submitted by vendors.
  • Serve as the Boiler Plant Operations Safety Device Testing champion.
  • Maintain detailed safety device testing reports.
• Leading WG-09 Boiler Plant Operators
  
  • Maintain and provide current training and leave roster to the Boiler Plant Operations Supervisor.
  • Make recommendations as to approval of leave to supervisor.
  • Maintaining the Boiler Plant schedule for each pay period.
  • Lead Boiler Plant Operators in their day to day activities.
  • Assigning work orders.
  • Training all operators on the proper lockout/tagout procedures.
• Responsible for the Boiler Plant Preventative Maintenance Program. This includes all equipment; checking inventory of shop supplies and materials; ordering equipment, parts, and supplies; inspection of equipment, equipment rooms, work areas, cleanliness, and saftey.
• Serve as the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) champion.

Work Schedule: Various shifts: including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator Leader/PD1746956
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In 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.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/20/2026.
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:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Measuring Instruments
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Technical Practices
• 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/Working Conditions: Able to do a considerable amount of walking, standing, climbing ladders and stairs, crawling inside of tight spaces such as boilers, and heavy lifting. Must be able to handle the heat stress generated by Boiler Plant equipment within an enclosed but ventilated environment. Able to work in bent, prone, or crouched positions; have good or corrected eyesight for observing water columns and gauges; good hearing for detecting noises that would indicate trouble with boilers and auxiliary equipment. Required to lift up to 50 pounds
Performs work inside and outside in dusty, dirty locations at extreme ambient temperatures, in inclement and fair weather, in confined spaces and noisy environments. Is exposed to the possibility of cuts, abrasions, and bruises. Works from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, and hard-to-reach places.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
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.
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.
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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.
Benefits
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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.
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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.