Summary This full-time position is that of a Maintenance Mechanic - Painter/Plasterer/Carpenter and is within the Facility Maintenance Service (FMS) at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System located in Leeds, MA. Approximately 40% of the incumbent's work in this position will involve painting, 30% will involve plastering/wall repair, and 30% will involve carpentry. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include: Carpentry- Setting up and operating the full range of industrial woodworking and related machinery. Carpentry- must possess the skills to install new, or sharpen old saw blades, and lubricate portable and stationary table saws. Painter- must possess the skill to assemble spray painter parts, install/remove spray guns, lubricate airless spray paint machine. Painter - Must understand the importance of the new Safety Data Sheet (SDS) under the new Global Harmonization System (GHS) and how it pertains to the worker and building occupants. Plasterers- Receive assignments then reviews work to be completed, interpret sketches and decide work methods or processes best suited to complete the job. Carpentry- Ability to lay out work, determine material and equipment needs, plan and accomplish a wide range of work sequences ranging from basic repairs to complex project segments Apply coating materials by accepted industry techniques. Read and apply directions that relate to the mixture, use, and application of various kinds of coating materials, paints, solvents, and pre-coating agents. Uses knowledge of wood, metal and wood substitute materials, and standard industry accepted construction techniques. Determines the proper grade, size, and @type of lumber or wood substitute material required for the job. Ability to mix all @types of plastering materials. Knowledge to install or replace metal, wood, or gypsum lath. Skilled in applying tape to joints between wallboards and applying and finishing joint compound to assure an even surface. Carpentry - Measure for layouts such as those required constructing footings for structural foundations and constructing concrete forms and related structures. Uses all the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure work is completed safely and in compliance with all OSHA and VA laws, regulations and requirements. Plastering on all @types of backgrounds such as metal, wood, gypsum wallboard, wire & wood lath and masonry surfaces, as well as repair and patching of plaster and stucco surfaces. Painting - Applies materials to match, texture, decorative, thickness, and level requirements and skill in matching, tinting, toning, and blending coating materials, and in combining agents (catalysts, drying agents, and retardants) with coating materials. Plastering- Apply Gypsum and plaster coats to a level 5 finish. Carpentry- Applies techniques in order to construct, install, repair, wood and metal construction, wood substitute structures and items requiring close tolerance fit and structural soundness. Skilled in the use of common plastering trade tools, such as trowels and floats to provide a smooth finish, as well as brushes, sponges, and other materials to obtain the proper texture. Skilled in the use of tools and equipment such as brushes, rollers, spray guns, trowels, screeds, straight edges, wet and other thickness gauges and paint tinting machine. Applies knowledge in the safe and proper procedures used to Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) tools and equipment when performing maintenance, repairs or set up. Able to layout ceiling grids for ceiling tiles without more than normal supervision. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD00466A Physical Requirements:Painting requires preparing and coating surfaces from ladders, scaffolds, aerial lifts and platforms, where the surfaces to be coated are in cramped and hard-to-reach places. In addition, the incumbent must be able to work above shoulder height up to 75% of the time. Frequently lift, carry, and set up materials and equipment that weigh up to 10 pounds. Occasionally, they may handle materials and equipment that weigh 40 pounds and over. Plastering requires heavy lifting of up to 100 pounds while carrying mortar, scaffolds, ladders, and other materials. When working in a shop, carpenters may stand for extended periods while operating machines such as bench planers, saws and drill presses. When at a job site, strenuous physical exertion is sometimes required when handling heavy and bulky materials such as sheets of plywood, framing members, and other building and construction materials. This requires standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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. 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: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices 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. 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.
