Summary This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), South Central Veterans Health Care Network, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 16), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Facilities Management Service Line, Grounds and Transportation, Houston, TX. The primary reason for this position is to maintain the grounds of the medical center. Responsibilities Major Duties: Clean air handling unit coils, replace belts and snake sewer lines. Replace broken underground sprinkler pipes Clean Photovoltaic (Solar Panels), trim trees, re-lamp street and parking lots light fixtures. Break up concrete to repair sidewalks and roads. Operate heavy walking and riding mowers, adjust blades and clean and oil mowers. Responds to service calls. Digs ditches and trenches with pick and shovel where dirt is hard and compact, does grading and sloping. Operates trenchers, mini excavator, platform and boom lifts, pneumatic compressors and jack hammers, as needed. Constructs forms, mixes and pours concrete, prepares asphalt and hot mix; fills and levels holes in damaged roads. Stacks, rotates, bins, and loads/unloads a wide variety of supplies, equipment, material, and commodities in accordance with standardized instructions. Specific items such as bags, barrels, cartons, or furniture may weigh up to 75 lbs. or more. Cut trees using ax and/or chain saw. Weeds all areas of the medical center grounds by means of hand/or garden tools. Cleans debris collected in work area after such work. Digs small trenches and holes using hand tools for a variety of purposes, such as drainage, etc. Loads truck, collecting grass, tree limbs, soil, or other construction debris around grounds. Waters, mulches planter beds, removes plants, shrubs, and trees. Work Schedule: Tuesday- Saturday, 5:00am - 1:30pm; subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer/PD03717A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized 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 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 dentification 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 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 , 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, 10/06/2025. 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/Working Conditions: Exerts moderately heavy physical efforts in occasionally lifting and carrying heavy objects (about 50 pounds); frequently lifting and carrying or moving objects up to 40 pounds; pushing and moving heavy furniture; and considerable stooping and bending in performing cleaning tasks. Personal assistance and/or lifting devices are provided as required/appropriate. Education Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. 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.
