Summary This position is located within the Grounds and Transportation Department of the Facilities Management Service at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in Canandaigua, NY. The Tractor Operator operates wheel-mounted tractors and towed or attached equipment, transporting materials and equipment, digging, loading, planting, clearing, watering and mowing. Responsibilities The major duties include but are not limited to: Landscapes flowerbeds, trees, shrubs, etc.; Cuts down trees and trims branches of various sizes, trims and shapes shrubs and plants located throughout the facility; Moves furniture and other heavy equipment and materials for other trades; Helps other trades in demolition and construction tasks as needed; Removes snow from walks, roadways and parking lots, etc.; Spreads various materials on icy spots and other duties related to snow removal; Removes mower decks and installs snowplow blades, snow blowers and sweepers; Installs salters on various equipment for the winter season; Removes buckets on small utility tractors and installs plow blades on all different @types of plow equipment; Removes and installs doors on equipment as necessary; Performs preventative maintenance such as air and oil filters, grease fittings, sharpens and replaces mower blades, brushes and replaces cutting edges on plows and loader buckets; Inspects vehicles and equipment prior to and during their use each day, checking radiator, motor oil, gasoline, tires, battery and the general appearance of the vehicle; Drives various @types of vehicles and equipment in the light to medium duty range, to haul wood, soil and debris to storage locations around the facility as needed; Drives on all @types of roads and surfaces and traffic conditions; Transports, cars, vans and trucks to authorized government vendors for major and minor repairs and determines if the work has been accomplished satisfactorily; Operates power tools and hand tools to mow grass and weeds, trim hedges, prune shrubs and small trees, blow and rake leaves, shovel debris, etc.; Cleans shop areas and picks up trash from designated areas; Provides regular maintenance on equipment and makes emergency repairs when necessary and the maintenance mechanic is not available; and, Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Compressed/Flexible Schedule. Will be discussed during interview. Recruitment & Relocation 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 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 PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: The work of the position requires standing, walking, climbing, crouching, kneeling, stooping and reaching, pushing and pulling of equipment. Must be able to lift and carry heavy materials and equipment. The person in the position primarily works outside and is exposed to all kinds of weather conditions. Works outdoors for extended periods of time during summer or winter months coping with heat or cold. Exposed to high and low temperatures, strains form handling heavy objects, cuts and abrasions from tools and equipment. Due to the nature of certain duties (snow removal, etc.), may work beyond an eight-hour day and/or may be required to work earlier and/or later shifts at any time. May be exposed to chemicals, dust and sprays and may need to wear protective clothing and respirators. Driver's License Requirement (SCREEN OUT): A current and valid state-issued driver's license is required for this position to operate the government vehicles. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. 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 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.
