Duties
Please Note: This announcement has been extended until September 4, 2024. Applicants who have already applied do not need to reapply but may update their application materials during this time.
Duties Include But Are Not Limited To The Following
- Operates water treatment plant and sewage pump station
- Monitors treated water quality for pH, turbidity and chlorine levels and adjusts chemicals to meet all Environmental Protection Agency/Maryland Department of Environment (EPA/MDE) operating standards
- Collects and analyzes water samples for the proper amount of chemicals, adjusts chemicals, and changes flow rates as required to efficiently purify the treated water
- Monitors SCADA controls, gauges, water level indicators, and warning devices found in the water treatment plant to ensure proper water levels and water pressures do not exceed safety limits
- Receives and disseminates spill alerts, etc.
- Performs operator maintenance on water treatment equipment including cleaning, lubrication, replacement of gaskets, and packing
- Utilizes knowledge of water distribution system to isolate and re-route when necessary due to water main breaks
- Performs all other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:00pm AND 4:00pm to 12:00am shifts - includes rotating weekends
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Requirements
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
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Pre-employment physical required
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
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 requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.
The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: License Required - This position is required by the Maryland Department of the Environment to possess a current Class 4 T-4 Water Treatment Plant Operator License and keep in good standing. Please do not submit your license at time of application, however, if an interview is requested, you will be required to provide your current, in good standing license at that time.
The Following Items Are Preferred, But Not Required
- Minimum 5 years experience with surface water treatment plants
- 1 year experience with Water Filtration Membranes
- 1 year experience with CL02 (chlorine dioxide) generators
- Legionella sampling and building chlorination
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: The employee must stand for a large part of the working day, cleaning tanks, working in stooped or prone positions for long periods, and at times exert considerable physical effort in lifting chemicals into various chemical feeders and storage areas which consists of 50lb bags, 55 gallon drums and other various size drums. The employee may also sit at the SCADA computer at various lengths analyzing the water treatment plant conditions and operating data.
The employee is required to wear provided personal protective equipment such as eyewear/goggles, steel-toe boots, hearing protection, latex gloves, and Tyvex suits due to frequent exposure to various water treatment chemicals and raw sewage.
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. 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:
- Dexterity and Safety
- Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
- Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
- Measuring Instruments
- Operation of Equipment/Machinery
- Technical Practices
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.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional Information
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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.
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.
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 .