Summary This position is located at the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Hospital, (578) Hines, IL - a complexity level 1a VHA facility, and organizationally aligned to the Maintenance Section - Engineering, Service Line. The work includes working with pipes and fittings from a range of high pressure to low pressure steam. Responsibilities The incumbent of this position performs the duties of a Journeyman Pipefitter as follows: Repair, adjust, maintain, and install all @types of plumbing and steam fixtures and their allied equipment. Perform various new installations of plumbing and steam equipment from laying out ordering materials, roughing-in to finished job. Repair, maintain, adjust, install, and improve all allied equipment for plumbing and heating such as meters, valves, compressors, pumps, steam traps, grease traps, strainers, reducing valves heating coils etc. Repair, install and maintain pipe insulation of fiberglass, molded magnesium, cork, and rubber. Repair, test and install various @types of piping systems, including water, fire main system air gas vacuum and drainage from 1/8" to 12" pipe size using copper, brass, cast iron, iron or plastic pipe with threaded, caulked, soft solder, silver solder, cemented and flanged joints. Install, repair and maintain various @types of equipment, such as dishwashers, kitchen equipment, sterilizers, autoclaves, hot water generators, and various other hospital equipment assigned to the Plumbing Shop. Repair and maintain heating, unit heating, which includes piping, convectors, coils, shut off valves, traps and circulating pumps. Perform preventive maintenance with basic activity. Fit and install various new hospital and laboratory equipment, including plumbing fixtures such as drinking fountains, lavatories, urinals, stools, sinks, etc. Repair, maintain and install (which may entail complete overhaul of vacuum pumps, compressed air pumps, water circulating pumps and all piping connected to these pumps. Maintain a stock level of repair parts and supplies. Is responsible for ordering of replacement parts and repair materials for the equipment assigned to the Plumbing Shop. Maintain, repair, test and install all outside plumbing which includes sanitary sewer, water, gas, fire main and underground sprinkler systems. Install and repair gas-fired equipment assigned to the Plumbing Shop, which includes solenoid valves, thermocouples, and other gas safety equipment. When not assigned to pipefitters, may be assigned to the station's steam production plant to perform duties as assigned by the operation section supervisor. These duties entail the operation of the steam plant, maintenance, and repair of the many different @types of equipment such as pumps, D.A. Heaters, surge tanks, boilers and combustion control systems. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:00AM-3:30PM Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD09722A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The incumbent's work assignments require regular and recurring physical exertions related to frequent inspections and requires considerable sitting, standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, reaching or similar movements. Lift and carry moderately heavy objects (50lbs). Work requires some degree of agility and dexterity when, for example, involves inspecting equipment/valve/trap in subbasement, ceiling, or other areas. Incumbent may be exposed to health hazard when performing inspections, troubleshooting, repair, etc. Visual acuity is required to conduct maintenance, repair, inspection, and complete administrative work. 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 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 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) Measurement and Layout 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. 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.
