Summary This position is located at the Department of Veterans Affairs Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) facility in the Plumbing shop under the Maintenance and Operations Section in the Engineering Services. He/She will perform tasks and duties requiring the journeyman level skills of a Plumber/Pipefitter. Responsibilities Duties may include, but are not limited to: Repair, adjust, maintain, and install all @types of plumbing and steam fixtures and allied equipment for heating/cooling such as meters, valves, compressors, pumps, steam traps, grease traps, strainers, P.R.V., heating coils, etc. Perform various new installations of plumbing and steam equipment from print reading, ordering materials, roughing-in to finished job. Install plumbing fixtures such as drinking fountains, lavatories, urinals, stools, sinks, etc. Repair, install, and maintain pipe insulation made of fiberglass, cork, rubber, foam, or other standard @types. Repair, test, and install various @types of piping systems including domestic water, steam, fire sprinkler system, air, oxygen, gas, vacuum, drainage, and other various hospital systems. This individual will be working with copper, steel, black iron pipe, various @types of plastic pipe, and other @types common to the plumbing/pipefitting trade. Pipe size can range from 1/8" to 12". Repair and maintain zone heating, unit ventilating, heating, radiant and hot water circulating systems which includes piping, convectors, coils shutoff valves, traps, compressed air, circulating pumps, pneumatic temperature controls, and control valves and thermostats. Repair, maintain, and install (which may entail complete overhaul of) fire pumps, vacuum pumps, compressed air pumps, hot and cold water circulating pumps and all piping connected to these pumps. Maintain, repair, test, and install all outside plumbing which includes sanitary sewer, water, gas, and fire main systems. Install, repair, and maintain various @types of equipment such as dishwashers, kitchen equipment, sterilizers, autoclaves, incinerators, hot water generators, gas-fired equipment, solenoid valves, thermocouples, gas safety equipment, Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Systems, and various other medical center equipment. Maintain a stock level of repair parts and supplies and is responsible for ordering of replacement parts and materials for assigned equipment. Perform preventive maintenance on equipment such as lubricating, adjusting, clearing stoppages by mechanical or chemical means, repair valves by reseating and repacking, replacing steam traps or elements, cleaning grease, and plaster traps. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD50259A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. 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. To be found at least minimally qualified for the position of Pipefitter at the WG-10 level, your application and supporting documents must demonstrate the critical knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential for satisfactory job performance. For this position, you must have the ability to do the work without more than normal supervision in performing the full range of duties. Related experience includes: Safely and independently performing pipefitter work assignments; Reading and following blueprints and specifications; Estimating accurately the time and materials required to install, repair, or replace equipment or components; Soldering and brazing piping systems; Properly selecting and using tools, parts and materials to accomplish a task quickly, neatly and safely; and Using hand and power tools of the trade, i.e., pipe threader, sewer augers, acetylene torch, reciprocation saws, corded and battery-powered drills, pipe cutters, pipe wrench, hammer drills, and other common hand tools of the trade. This position requires the attainment and maintaining of a Med-Gas certification. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Measurement and Layout Technical Practices 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/Working Conditions: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. The incumbent's tasks require standing, stopping, squatting, and kneeling in cramped positions for prolonged periods. He/She will be required to climb and work from ladders and scaffolding. He/She will lift and carry heavy objects weighing over 50 pounds. The incumbent may work in various hot, dirty, dusty, wet, or otherwise unpleasant areas. In he performance of his/her duties he/she may be exposed to unpleasant odors, human waste, and other unpleasant materials that are flushed in the sanitary sewer system. He/She will be required to work in contaminated or sterile areas, and will be required to wear protective clothing and masks. there may be exposure to cuts, bruises, burns, contagious diseases, and inclement outdoor weather. 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. 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. 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.
