Summary The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Durham VA Medical Center, Engineering Service, M&R Section, Construction and Maintenance, Durham, NC. The primary duties of the position are repairing, overhauling, modifying, testing, and installing a variety of locking devices typically found . on doors, desk, compartments, mobile equipment, safes, vaults, and other secured locations. Responsibilities The duties include, but are not limited too: Installs, modifies and reworks locking devices, maintains, repairs, or replaces locks to doors, windows, narcotic boxes, medicine and file cabinets, lockers, laundry chutes, electric panels, padlocks, burglar alarms, special locks used in detention areas, x-ray developing areas, and other areas where due to unusual conditions the area must be made secure temporarily or for an indefinite length of time Repairs or replaces broken or worn lock parts often by machining or handcrafting the part if it is obsolete Adds or removes key combinations to meet the needs of each of the hospital services, making certain to keep all keying within approved hospital system; and establishes new combinations Works closely with management to determine the most suitable locks to be used in throughout the medical center Opens jammed locks when mechanisms malfunction or have been forcibly damaged or tampered with by picking or whatever method that does the lease amount of damage to government property Disassembles locks while closely inspecting them for took marks, abrasions, and misaligned parts which would indicate the possibility of an attempted "break in". All lock work must be precision done for smooth operation Services and repairs safe and vault doors, hinges, and locking arms Calibrates dials, changes combinations, services tumbler nest, etc. and tests to be sure safe is operating properly Cuts all keys for use by hospital personnel, codes them for identification and services key duplicating machine to keep it in good operating condition Maintains electronic prox card locks for medication rooms, computer rooms, pharmacy, warehouse and other secure areas Uses personal computer to assign prox cards to necessary employees Uses hand held computer to reprogram locks as needed Assembles, test, and evaluates the completed locking device to ensure it properly secures Work Schedule: 0730am-1600pm Position Description Title/PD#: Locksmith/PD06626A 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 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, 04/27/2026. 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. Skill and Knowledge: Knowledge of construction, operation, and functional characteristics of locking devices Thorough knowledge of the full range of locking devices and their parts in order to select substitute parts, rework and finishing substitute parts and fabricating parts to close fits In-depth knowledge of neutralization techniques to determine if locking devices have been tampered with Skill in experimenting with various @types of materials such as metals, alloys, and plastics to develop parts and components Ability to select appropriate materials to consider strength and hardness, machining characteristics, environmental factors, and the extent to which the materials used could complicate or hamper the use of standard neutralization techniques Broad knowledge of the functions and capabilities of commercially manufactured locking devices, as well as their working interrelationships with a variety of equipment such as monitors, alarms, timing mechanisms, and sensors to provide management with recommendations regarding the most suitable locks to be used for security Knowledge of the full installation and repair cycle on commercially manufactured locking devices to assemble, test and evaluate the completed locking devices Skill in manufacturing replacement parts, devising or changing combinations, establishing mastery keying systems, neutralizing lockouts, and a variety of installation and repair processes such as filing, drilling, chiseling, and grinding Skill in reworking and finishing substitute arts and fabricating parts to close fits Skill in improvising and applying neutralization techniques in order to not damage the locking devices and security containers on doors during lockout situations Skill in the adjustment, maintenance, and use of small hand tools such as files, tweezers, tension wrenches, as well as the adjustment and use of powered tools common to the trade such as key duplicating and coding machines, grinders and stamping machines Customer Service: Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA (staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures Handles conflicts and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. ADP Security: Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statues and policy, and VHA policy Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement that the employee signs 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: Frequently stands, stoops, bends, kneels and works in awkward positions while installing, repairing and modifying locks. Required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Working Conditions: Work is normally done inside in areas that are well lighted, heated and ventilated. Occasionally work is done outside the inclement weather or in areas that area drafty and poorly lighted. Incumbent is exposed to the possibility of cuts, scrapes and bruises. 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.
