Summary Incumbent is Journeyman Level and responsible for installing, repairing, modifying, and maintaining facility locking systems of the El Paso VA Health Care System. Work to be conducted on mechanical, electronic, cipher, keypad, digital, badge-access, and various other @types of locking mechanisms throughout the main campus of the El Paso VA, as well as its satellite clinics in El Paso and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Responsibilities Major Duties: Incumbent repairs, overhauls, modifies, tests, and installs a variety of locking devices found on doors, office furniture, safes and other secured locations. Incumbent also is required to duplicate, repair, and/or replace keys of varying degrees of difficulty as well as the key locking mechanisms they operate. Incumbent receives assignments from the Maintenance & Operations Supervisor specifying the final product. Independently solves problems that require modification of accepted trade practices, procedures, and methods. Incumbent makes difficult judgments and decisions when modifying and reworking locking devices for special security objectives and high security areas such as Pharmacy, Veterans Canteen Service, and the Agent Cashier. Work will be on Mechanical Locking Components of Security or Surveillance Systems and will be required to modify and rework mechanical locking device components of complete security or surveillance systems. Incumbent will be required to assess and determine the most suitable locks for solving simply and complex security problems. Incumbent will improvise trade techniques to adapt locking mechanisms to hamper or prevent the use of standard neutralization techniques and select substitute parts for fabricating locking devices to meet special security objectives. Reworks locks to improve or provide new structural or functional capability and fabricate parts to close fit. Investigates, repairs, and reworks locks, troubleshoots locking mechanisms that interrelate with equipment such as monitors, alarms, timing mechanisms, sensors and other equipment in complete security or surveillance systems. Disassembles lock, closely inspects for tool marks, abrasions, and misarranged parts which indicate the possibility of tampering. Improvises and applies advances neutralization techniques. The incumbent is responsible for tools, equipment and materials used in the performance of assigned duties. Incumbent maintains work area at an acceptable level of cleanliness and stocks all materials and supplies in a neat and accessible manner. Incumbent is further required to repair, replace and/or modify doors and door hardware for proper installation and fit of locking and control hardware. Modifications consist of cutting, planning, drilling, and packetizing doors and structures for installation of new hardware and devices. Work Schedule: 7:00am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday. Nights and weekends as needed. Position Description Title/PD#: Locksmith/PD012660 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 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, 03/16/2026. 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) Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Troubleshooting 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. Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Seldom requires lifting or carrying of items weighing in excess of 7 kilograms (15 pounds). Frequently stands, stoops, bends, kneels and works in awkward positions when installing and opening locks and emergency exit hardware re on-site. May be required drill, cut, nail, screw, and to lift security containers weighing up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds) and heavier weights with assistance. Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 4 hours); Standing (up to 2 hours); Repeated bending (up to 0.5 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Hearing (aid permitted). Work is normally done inside in areas that are well lighted, heated and ventilated. Occasionally work is done outside in bad weather or in areas that are drafty and poorly lighted. Exposure to the possibility of cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Exposure to the possibility of bums while using acetylene torches, brazing torches, and soldering irons. Education Additional Information 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.
