Summary The Salem VA Medical Center is seeking a skilled and experienced plumber to support the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our medical facilities. In this role, you will perform installation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing systems and equipment throughout the campus, ensuring that critical systems operate effectively to support patient care and facility needs. We are looking for a dedicated professional who values craftsmanship, reliability, and mission-driven work. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: The employee performs maintenance and repair, alterations, installation and inspections to all piping distribution lines, systems and equipment necessary for operating the Medical Center. This work involves installing new piping and insulations, cleaning and repair of steam coils, traps and regulators, repacking and replacing steam, water and other fluid valves. Measure, cut; bend pipe and tile, and how to caulk and seal such things as elbows, union joints, tile pipe, faucets, and shower drains. Remove, clean, reinstall, or replace joints and fixtures; for example, traps, k faucets, and unions. Performs all work on steam equipment necessary for maintaining established temperature, pressures and water level. Performs plumbing and steam fitting work on utility systems. Plan and layout the installation and maintenance of various systems and equipment for routing, openings, slants, level of gas and water lines, and the location and arrangement of water closets, sinks, and fire sprinkler equipment. Use tools and equipment such as plumb bobs, mercury gauges, dividers, closet augers, hydrostatic pumps and lad pots. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:45 am - 4:30 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Plumber/PD022930 Physical Requirements: The duties require considerable movement around the hospital and involve bending, lifting, working from ladders and scaffolding and platforms, both in the outside buildings, and crawling through restrictive areas. The employee must occasionally lift equipment or materials weighing fifty pounds or more with proper equipment. Assignments may require him/her to stand, stoop, kneel, climb and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. 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: Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Measuring Instruments Shop Practices Use Hand Tools - Machine Shop Without more than normal supervision Work Practices Preferred Experience: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the appropriate tools to install, maintain, or repair pipelines, pipe systems, and fixtures, including water, air, steam, gas, chemicals, or sewage. Measurement and Layout. Exerts maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects; performs moderately laboring work. Interpret Instructions, Specifications (including blueprint reading): Ability to interpret instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprinting reading). Often the employee is required to layout and install, modify and repair new and existing utility, supply and disposal systems and equipment. This includes water supply, gas, oxygen, air, vacuum, fire sprinkler systems, all @types of plumbing fixtures, hot water generators and sewer systems. The employee must have the ability to use shop mathematics. 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 This job does not have an education qualification requirement. 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.
