Summary The Motor Vehicle Operator position is within the Business Office service of the Bedford VA Healthcare System, located in Bedford, MA. It is permanent and full-time (40 hours per week). Responsibilities This position will operate within the Veteran Transportation Service (VTS) program within the Bedford VA Healthcare System to provide transportation to veterans and their spouses who live in areas of the Bedford VA Medical Center and surrounding satellite clinics catchment areas. Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides non-emergent, safe transportation of eligible veterans and cargo; Operates and provides preventive maintenance for patient transport vehicles; Ensures that only eligible veterans and their caregivers are transported to the Medical Center or satellite clinic and returned to their respective pick-up locations; Completes basic office automation/administrative duties; Provides preventive maintenance for transport vehicles; Operates vehicles with special-purpose accessory equipment; Completes reports of accidents, breakdowns, or equipment failure/needs, etc,; Assists with loading, securing, and unloading individuals with disabilities (including wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc.); Interacts in a courteous and respectful manner with a wide variety of customers and employees; and Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 6:30am to 3:00pm Position Description Title/PD#: Motor Vehicle Operator/PD518-00272-A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Notifications: Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their 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. This position is covered by a special rate. 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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 identification 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) A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. 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 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, 11/30/2026. 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. Driver's License Requirement: Must possess a valid state issued driver's license to operate a motor vehicle. (Please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. You will be required to show your valid driver's license at the time of your interview.) 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: Drive Safely Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations) Motor Vehicles Reliability And Dependability 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: Light physical effort in reaching, bending, turning, or moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate hand and foot controls. Moderate physical effort in the frequent handling of objects weighing up to 40 pounds. Considerable physical efforts may be required to change tires and make limited emergency repairs, such as installing an emergency fan belt or replacing an electrical fuse on open highways. Patient transport vehicle driver must be able to assist patients into and out of the vehicle, which involves physical exertion and frequent stooping, bending, and lifting of patients. Driver must also be able to load and assist wheelchair patients, often with no assistance. WORKING CONDITIONS: Employee works mostly outside, is exposed to dirt and fumes, and to the possibility of cuts and bruises, and broken bones as a result of accidents while driving or from falling objects when loading and unloading the vehicle. Operates vehicle in all @types of traffic and weather on public roads (or the equivalent), and is exposed to the danger of serious accidents. Employee will drive in heavy traffic and at highway speeds over complicated road and interchange systems. 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.
