Summary This position is located in the Transportation Section of the Engineering Service at Birmingham VA Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. The Motor Vehicle Operator is responsible for operating a variety of automotive equipment, including passenger cars, vans, patient transport vans, ambulance, panel truck, pick-up trucks, cargo vans, trucks and ambulance buses. Responsibilities DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Operating vehicles transporting 16 or more passengers and vehicles that exceed weight class of 26,001 lbs or more Gross Vehicle Weigh Rating (GVWR) Picking up and delivering patients, employees, medical charts, mail, pharmaceuticals, and supplies between the medical center and community-based clinics Transporting patients, their families, and medical staff in ambulances, vans, or buses while ensuring comfort and safety Driving and operating a variety of motor vehicles under different road, weather, and traffic conditions, including long and short hauls Assisting accompanying medical personnel in loading, unloading, and securing patients and equipment for transport Checking, verifying, and documenting materials or items loaded and delivered, ensuring accuracy and obtaining required signatures Determining the best sequence for loading and unloading to maintain proper weight distribution and cargo safety Maneuvering vehicles skillfully through narrow streets, congested traffic, and uneven or rough terrain while observing all traffic laws and safety regulations Performing routine operator maintenance such as monitoring fluids, replacing air filters, checking tires, cleaning interiors, and washing vehicles Ensuring vehicles remain in safe working condition by scheduling and coordinating preventive maintenance and necessary repairs Adhering to federal, state, and local regulations while maintaining professional conduct and providing courteous service to all passengers Work Schedule: 5 days a week; 8 hours a day; Multiple shifts available, shifts are distributed by needs of the service Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized \Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Pre-employment physical required Subject to background/security investigation 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 PHYSICAL EFFORT: The incumbent loads and unloads cargo and directs seating arrangements of passengers, assists in lifting and carrying supplies hauled, and arranges loads in the vehicle to provide proper weight distribution for safety. The incumbent is required to lift and push heavy articles while loading and unloading cargo. Physical effort is required in reaching, bending, turning, or moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate hand and foot controls of vehicles. Moderate effort is required in the frequent handling of objects up to and occasionally more than 50 pounds while loading and unloading cargo. The incumbent will assist and load wheelchair and stretcher patients in and out of patient transport vehicles. WORK CONDITIONS: The incumbent is required to work under various weather and road conditions. The incumbent is required to operate vehicles on highways and streets in all kinds of weather, often for extended periods of time on long trips. The incumbent may be called back to work after working hours or on weekends to make emergency trips. The incumbent is exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials that may contain bloodborne pathogens. Incumbent must regard all patients as potentially infectious; therefore, "Universal Precautions" should be observed. Protective wear must be worn during potential exposure. Hand washing prior to and after removing gloves are required. Continuing education in the area of infection control is recommended. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Drive Safely Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations) Motor Vehicles Reliability And Dependability Without more than normal supervision Work Practices AND COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT: Current valid state Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Passenger endorsement is a prerequisite to appointments and represents minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet this requirement are ineligible for further consideration. (We cannot accept photographs, so please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. You may be required to show your valid driver's license at the time of your interview.) IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Education Additional Information Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. 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. 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.
