Plant Utilities Assistant (NY HELPS)

Plant Utilities Assistants perform semiskilled tasks in a safe and efficient manner by operating and maintaining steam or high temperature hot water boilers rated at 15 pounds per square inch or more; maintain and repair boilers for heating systems, air conditioning, chillers, pumps, domestic hot water, ventilation, other power plant auxiliary equipment, and electrical distribution and mechanical stationary equipment. May supervise Plant Utilities Helpers in performing routine manual labor.

Experienced incumbents may be assigned a limited number of activities requiring the full performance level skills of a Plant Utilities Engineer

• Positions involve shift work within a 24-hour work schedule which includes night and holiday shifts.

Minimum Qualifications

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications

(NY HELPS):

Either

• Graduate of heating, HVAC, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration apprenticeship program from the U.S. Air Force;

Or

• Must have been an enlisted machinery technician (MK) with the U.S. Coast Guard OR possession of a certificate as a Marine Engineer issued by the U.S. Coast Guard;

Or

• Must have been an enlisted power generation equipment repairer with the U.S. Army;

Or

• Must have been an enlisted gas turbine systems technician, submarine nuclear propulsion plant operator reactor control, utilities man, machinist mate, or engineman with the U.S. Navy;

Or

• Must have a Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) and have been a qualified member of the engine department (QMED) as an oiler, fireman/water tender, refrigerating engineer or engineman with the U.S. Merchant Marine;

Or

• Completion of a New York State Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program for stationary engineers, plant maintenance (plumber/steamfitter), HVAC Mechanic or plant maintenance (refrigeration/AC) (See Note #1);

Or

• Possession of a High-Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer License or Stationary Engineer License;

Or

• A bachelor's degree in Facilities Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Marine Engineering;

Or

• An associate's degree in HVAC;

Or

• One year of full-time hands-on experience in the maintenance and operation of commercial, residential, industrial, institutional facility, computer applications of digital energy platforms and building analytics and/or performing diagnosis, maintenance, and/or repair of HVAC systems or boilers or auxiliary equipment

Or

• Completion of an HVAC certificate or diploma from a BOCES program (440 hours) OR completion of an approved certificate in HVAC, electrical, refrigeration, boiler operations and maintenance, or plumbing from an accredited technical school or technology college (See Note)

Or

• Successful completion of a two-year plumbing or electrician training, apprenticeship, or equivalent program* such as the New York State Civil Service Employees Association-Partnership Applied Skilled Trades Traineeship and Certificate Program. *Successful completion of the traineeship and the training program includes a total of 288 hours of trade-specific classroom instruction, 45 hours of technical math course work, 45 hours of technical communications course work, and 15 hours of blueprint/schematic reading course work.

Course work must be completed with an average of "C" or better.

Additionally, successful completion of the traineeship also includes 4,000 hours of on-the-job training.

Competitive Minimum Qualifications

(NON-NY HELPS):

Candidates must have a reachable score on the University at Albany Plant Utilities Assistant Exam List OR

Be a current NYS employee and have a current permanent appointment with 1 year of service as a Plant Utilities Assistant, or in a title eligible to transfer to Plant Utilities Assistant OR

Be a former NYS employee eligible for reinstatement to the title of Plant Utilities Assistant

May be filled from a mandatory reemployment list if one is in effect at the time of appointment.

Any applications received that do not meet the above requirements as described will be deemed unqualified.

Preferred Qualifications:

Operational needs:

Valid NYS Driver's License required

Candidates are expected to be qualified to use negative pressure respirators