Summary This position is located within the Grounds Section of the Facilities and Engineering Service. Under general supervision, the Laborer will perform grounds maintenance operations including cutting grass, weed eating, trimming trees, policing leaves tree litter and trash from the campus grounds. Laborers will assist other laborers and equipment operators with backfilling, tamping and grading soils in landscaped and non-landscaped areas of the station, using powered and non-powered hand tools. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Perform grounds maintenance operations including cutting grass, weed eating, trimming trees, policing leaves tree litter and trash from the campus grounds. Laborers will assist other laborers and equipment operators with backfilling, tamping and grading soils in landscaped and non-landscaped areas of the station, using powered and non-powered hand tools. This job class requires skill and knowledge of complex and specialized grounds maintenance and mowing equipment, general grounds keeping practices, snow removal, roadway maintenance and repair and utility excavations. Building washing duties also include working from elevated platforms at heights near 60' while using pressurized water washers to clean the exterior surfaces. Incumbent will also use powered hand operated equipment including, but not limited to, snow blowers, weed eaters, chain saws, augers, jackhammers, tampers and power washing equipment all using safe work practices and applicable PPE. Non-powered hand tools such as shovels, hammers, rakes, and picks will also be used. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer/512-24266-A 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: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision Work Practices 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: Heavy physical effort is required by the operator in constant bending, reaching, lifting, and turning as well as constant movement of the extremities to operate assigned equipment and controls. This effort may occur in adverse or sub-optimal conditions outdoors in many different @types of weather. Laborers are also subject to vibration, jerking, jolting and strain when operation requires being on rough terrain or steep inclines. Because of the nature of this @type of work and equipment, laborers are often working in awkward or strained positions. Employees must have the ability to perform the following physical demands for extended periods of time with or without assistance: - Maneuvering over uneven ground, near personnel, buildings or vehicles - Maneuvering in, around, and on equipment - Climbing and working from high platforms requiring fall protection - Reaching, pushing, and pulling levers and mounting or dismounting attachments - Bending, stooping, and reaching - Lifting or moving tools, equipment and/or materials up to 50 pounds; Occasionally will be asked to move heavier items with the assistance of other workers or mechanical lifting devices. Working Conditions: As mentioned, work is required to be performed in all @types of weather in all seasons of the year. This may include work from an open seat or operator platform. Laborers must remain very focused on the operation and performance of equipment in adverse conditions to maintain safety and efficiency. Adverse conditions may also reduce reaction times for attachments and equipment being used. This should be at the forefront of the laborers mind when operating on uneven or sloped ground, especially when tipping or overturning a piece of equipment is a possibility. Laborers will also be subject to noisy, dusty, muddy, wet, cold and hot environments, sometimes including smoke or exhaust fumes. Incumbent will also be engaged in prolonged periods of strenuous physical labor that could involve lifting heavy objects, continuous shoveling or digging, walking and pushing/pulling as required. Laborers will also be engaged in snow removal, which may mean being called in during storms or working extended hours in adverse outdoor conditions. Utility emergencies such as water main breaks may also require long hours or being called in while off-duty, regardless of weather. Education This job does not have an education qualification requirement. Additional Information Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care. 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. 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.
