Summary This position is responsible for providing administrative and technical support to the Chief of Facilities Management Service (FMS) at the VA Central Western Massachusetts (VACWM). Performs a wide variety of administrative, technical and program duties essential to support all sections of FMS. Responsibilities The work consists of various duties, projects or assignments sometimes involving different and unrelated program analysis technical processes and procedures. Assignments or projects involve various @types and sources of information, nonrecurring problems, trends and issues. The purpose of the work is to plan and carry out assignments, which affect and improve the efficiency and productivity of the organization's operations. Some duties may include: Obtains relevant information regarding requests for repairs or replacement of equipment that is under warranty, covered by a service or commodity contract, and coordinates all the appropriate actions for service, maintenance or repair as needed. Performs the duties of Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for all TJC, EC, and LS service contracts, such as fire alarm testing & inspection ,etc. Performs inspections & trainings. Ensures all records are up to date, all-inclusive, organized and immediately available to inspectors both electronically and in hard copy. Knowledge of OSHA, VA Safety and Health regulations, policies and procedures regarding personal protection, fire safety, hot work, accident reporting, and infection control on construction projects. Serves as the FMS section OSHA training coordinator which includes preparing the yearly training plan, tracking training in a database, and submitting necessary reports to the Chief of FMS. Serves as manager regarding The Joint Commission (TJC) compliance; Life Safety(LS); Environment of Care (EC) & Annual Workplace Evaluation (AWE). Performs all TJC, EC, and LS inspections. Maintains current and accurate database on facility information resources for Capital Asset Management Systems (CAMS) program Develops & maintains computerized spreadsheets in order to effectively operate and utilize computerized maintenance management system. Computer literate and fully knowledgeable of how to effectively utilize a computerized maintenance management system. Knowledge and skill in use of office automation software. Performs some tasks on short notice and must produce accurate results in order to ensure the orderly progress of complex and highly time-sensitive construction projects. Research, survey work, self-study, and education are at times required to keep up to date with various programs. Maintains effective working relationships with professional, technical and management elements within the Medical Center, the Department of Veterans Affairs and outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. Knowledge of project maintenance; organization; planning; control; staffing and funding, NFPA and VA requirements, as well as, acquisition and contract activities, procedures, and relationships. Ensures personal safety while visiting construction sites and the ability to recognize unsafe situations associated with construction contractor's work. Familiarization with CADD, within a minimal ability to edit existing drawings, create and print sketches for reports and to document inspections, etc. Knowledge of construction contract requirements, general construction procedures, processes, construction trades, and organization. Skill in using office automation software (Microsoft Office, Excel, Access, Light-scribe Burner/CD and DVD copier hardware/software) in order to create and/or update and revise existing databases and/or spreadsheets to produce a wide range of documents. Skill in operation of office equipment (copiers, scanners, large plotters for engineering drawings, and fax machines). Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Facility Operations Specialist/PD022910 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 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 or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 12/30/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Quality Ranking Factor- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA experience / Quality Management & Compliance. Individual Occupational Requirements: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- engineering, industrial arts, property management, or business administration. OR Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Managing a maintenance program for office or apartment building complexes, hospitals, recreation facilities, military, or other special-purpose installations, including planning maintenance activities, and developing preventive maintenance programs. Conducting surveillance activities over construction and maintenance operations performed by a variety of private contractors, including reviewing project plans and specifications for workability, informing contractors of construction and reporting requirements, and supervising operations for conformance with project plans. Performing maintenance or construction work, including estimating material and labor costs for a variety of construction or maintenance projects (such as construction or maintenance of brick, frame, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and other @type structures ranging from one- or two-story buildings to larger structures), directing actual work operations, and maintaining appropriate contacts with the organization funding the project. Grade Determination: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR, two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR, LL.B., or J.D., if related . OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Contracting/Procurement Database Administration Organizational Performance Analysis Performance Measurement Technical Documentation 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: Work is usually performed in an office environment. However, inspections; investigations of work requests; evaluations of space and utilities for equipment and other field work require frequent walking, standing, bending, climbing, etc. Working Environment: Work is usually performed inside an office and other areas that have adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. Occasionally work is done outside in inclement weather or in areas that are very hot, cold or unventilated, such as crawlspaces and mechanical rooms. Safety: All work is performed in a careful and safe manner, employing all safety precautions and procedures such that no lost time accidents are caused directly by gross negligence or clearly improper work procedures. Promptly reports all incidents and potential hazards to the supervisor. Safety procedures must be followed, and appropriate protective safety gear must be worn, for the specific work area or task. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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.
