Summary This position is located within the Facility Management Department of the Facility Support Directorate located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago Illinois. Responsibilities Duties include but may not be limited to: Operates diesel and gasoline powered tractors; Operates a variety of heavy equipment with attachments or towing equipment, bulldozers, backhoes, snowplows, dump trucks, street sweeper, etc; Operates select pieces of snow removal equipment to remove snow from sidewalks, walkways and roadways during periods of inclement weather; Performs routine maintenance to vehicles and heavy equipment including maintaining oil levels, water, tire pressure, adjusting blades, tightening screws, bolts and lubrication; Operates lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams and swivel-hooks, hoists, and elevating platforms, to load, unload, and stack material; Operates lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams and swivel-hooks, hoists, and elevating platforms, to load, unload, and stack material; Utilizes knowledge of soil and terrain to determine the proper approach according to the condition of surface and subsurface; Follows established methods or special instructions such as mowing grass at standard heights or preparing seed beds according to specific instructions; Operates pneumatic hammers, augers, high ranger and other related equipment; Performs excavation, backfilling and trenching in support of project related work; Assists with planting of trees, shrubs and bushes, as directed; Maintains ornamentals by trimming, pruning and irrigating; Applies various fertilizers during season planting time; Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 6:00am-2:30pm 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 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 DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT: This position requires a current, valid state commercial driver's license. Do not upload a copy of your license at this time. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current, valid, and unrestricted commercial driver's license. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Performs moderately heavy lifting, pulling, and carrying of equipment and materials weighing up to 50 pounds Independently. Occasionally, may be required to lift or pull heavy equipment weighing more than 50 pounds with the help of weight handling equipment or with assistance from other workers. Work requires crouching, standing, kneeling, climbing, bending and stooping to accomplish assigned duties. Works in variable heights from 8 feet and above through the use of ladders, scaffolding or aerial equipment. Must have good hearing (corrected with an aid), good eyesight (corrected with glasses) and acceptable color vision. Performs majority of work assignments outdoors in varying temperatures, oftentimes under conditions of dampness, excessive heat and/or cold, or during other disagreeable climatic and environmental conditions. 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 Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle) Reliability And Dependability Without more than normal supervision Work Practices 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.
