Summary This position is located at the West Haven Connecticut VA Medical Center. The position performs a wide range of tasks essential to the upkeep and maintenance of buildings, grounds, structures, fixtures, and utilities. Work is hands-on and mission-critical to maintaining a safe, functional environment for veterans, staff, and visitors. Responsibilities The position is organizationally assigned to the Maintenance and Repair (M&R) Section of Facility Service and supervised by the M&R Operations Supervisor. The primary purpose of the position is to provide maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and installation support for the plumbing, heating, and cooling systems throughout the Medical Center. Major Duties & Responsibilities but not limited to: The incumbent performs a variety of tasks involved with installing, modifying, troubleshooting and repairing new and existing systems, including, but not limited to condensers, chillers, air handlers, compressed air, humidifying, dehumidifying, filtering, refrigerators, freezers and computer based Energy Management Control Systems (E1VICS). The incumbent maintains, repairs and installs new and existing plumbing systems, to include, but not limited to: high/ low pressure piping, sanitary sewer, steam heat, steam generation, circulating, vacuum, and condensate pumps, expansion tanks, radiators, lavatories, commodes, and water heaters. The incumbent works from building plans, blueprints and sketches to plan and layout routing of piping, vents, wiring, refrigeration lines, ductwork and valves. able to perform at a journeyman level in the multiple trades involved in the duty performance of this position, to include: Air Conditioning /Refrigeration Mechanic and Plumber/Pipefitter. able to read and interpret blueprints and wiring diagrams relative to the assigned equipment and utility systems. able to read and understand technical manuals and instructions on air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, as well as pumps, valves, gas and oil fired boilers and furnaces. He/she must be able to estimate cost, both labor and material, and prepare lists of materials for the completion on any job to be done. required to stand on his/her feet for long periods of time, crawl, stoop, climb ladders, work in close quarters and in inclement weather as required to access the various utility systems. He/she may be required to lift objects up to 50 pounds and is occasionally exposed to electrical hazards, pressurized steam, asbestos, mold, etc. Completes other duties as assigned to reach common team goals. Work Schedule: Rotating Days 11:30pm to 8:00am. Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD478-03164-A Physical Requirements: The work involves continual walking, standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and lifting while working in tiring and uncomfortable positions and climates. Uses manual or portable power tools for extended periods in uncomfortable positions. Frequently required to lift, carry and set-up parts & equipment, pipes and tools weighing up to 50 pounds unassisted. Occasional, heavy lifting over 50 pounds with assistance. Notification: This is a Bargaining Unit Position. Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position. This position is in the Competitive Service. Competitive Service-"The first year of Service of an employee who is given a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service under the Civil Service Regulations is a probationary period unless specifically exempted by the appointing authority". Current and former Federal employees, please submit copies of the most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and @type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. 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) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices 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.
