Summary The Maintenance Mechanic Leader is located at the East Orange, New Jersey VA Medical Center. The primary purpose of this position is to lead the maintenance team, maintaining any structural functions involving carpentry, sheet metal, and assembly. And control a wide variety of critical utility systems and equipment required of the Medical Center's physical plant. Responsibilities The incumbent serves as leader and is responsible for assisting his/her supervisor in assuring the efficient functioning of the Maintenance Mechanic Shop. This unit consists of (10) Maintenance Mechanics, (1) Locksmith, (1) Maintenance Worker. He/she must have a working knowledge of the trades which he/she leads. This unit is responsible for the maintenance and construction at this station. The incumbent is expected to lead the daily work assignments and plan tool, materials, and other required work items as well as perform the more difficult tasks. He/she will work with the other journeymen demonstrating proper work methods, assuring that proper plans, blueprints, and tools are available Plans, measures and lay out carpentry materials using broad knowledge of wood materials and substitutes, with general and precision woodworking techniques. Projects involve constructing, altering, repairing, and/or modifying framework, rafters, doors, finished paneling, windows, rough furniture, interior/exterior trim, staircases, trusses and beams. Spacing, accuracy and fit are essential, and structural soundness or appearance is important. Plans, measures, and lays out carpentry materials using advanced shop mathematics for complex and exact projects. Plans, measures, and lays out carpentry materials by interpreting complex or incomplete instructions, sketches, blueprints, and building codes. Worker has a broad knowledge of the masonry trade in planning work and determining methods and techniques to be used. Constructs, repairs, alters exterior/interior surfaces and structures. Lays common and face brick, firebrick, cinder and cement block, glass block, or terra cotta in constructing/repairing walls, walks, chimneys, or fireplaces. Cuts, shapes brick, and stone in constructing/repairing window and door openings and comers. Lays whole brick in straight, horizontal rows. Worker must perform a variety of complex brickwork such as circular smokestacks, and decorative work such as using different colors to create various designs and patterns. Worker must be able to use a variety of techniques including fastening brick or terra cotta veneer to face of structure using tie wire or anchor holes. Mason must be able to cut, shape and finish stone. Stone must be sorted by size and shape and must be laid in order to obtain strength and appearance. Worker reviews work to be performed, interprets blueprints or sketches, and decides work methods or processes best suited to complete the work. Installs and adjusts a variety of commercially manufactured locking devices including combination locks which are typically installed in such security units as doors, cabinets, and chests. Installs devices with features such as dual locking capabilities, mechanical interaction with timing mechanisms, combination locks or actuating mechanisms. Sets up coding systems involving varying @types of locks and keyways. Uses technical manuals to insure that various keyways are compatible. Refers to building blueprints to determine total number of locks and those that can be keyed alike. Uses arithmetic to set up coding system and select the correct size of pins. Perform other assigned duties. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:00am to 3:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not allowed Position Description/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic Leader/PD21Q88O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. 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 Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not 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 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, 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, 05/08/2026. 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) Lead or Supervise Materials Operation of Equipment/Machinery Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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: Frequently required to perform heavy lifting (up to 90 pounds). Continually required to stand while working and must climb ladders and scaffolds on a regular basis. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. 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. 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 qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
