Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Major duties of this position include but is not limited to:

• Constructs, alters, repairs and maintains varied wood structures, surfaces, and items where accuracy and fit are essential and structural soundness and appearance are important
• Completes/assembles constructed items often requiring exacting curves, angles and straight cuts for closely joined air tight assemblies
• Repairs/alters items and structures requiring incumbent to know size, shape and purposes to measure, cut and fit finish products; uses varied measuring instruments to accomplish precise measurements; uses shop mathematics to plan and compute complex and exact projects involving arcs, tangents, and circles
• Cuts, bevels, rabbets, chamfers, dados, grooves, and miters joints - Builds and constructs varied cementing forms
• Laminates plastic and Formica to wood surfaces; bends laminated plastic or Formica over counters, desk or sink tops to form splash backs, corners or flat laminates, fine surface wood materials, items, or structures for lacquer, stain or varnish applications
• Constructs and installs suspended acoustical ceiling grid and tile - Installs, maintains, repairs and patched built up gable or hip roofs
• Locates and traces leaks; makes required repairs
• Selects work methods and materials to repair and patch roofs; matches repair materials with original roofing; completes required replacements, patches, and repairs; cuts and shapes shingles to fit around accessories; on shingle installations, lays materials in straight lines to ensure proper overlap and coverage
• Installs, troubleshoots, modifies, repairs, maintains and overhauls varied standard and common mechanical and combination locking devices and mechanisms, such as mortise, rim, cylindrical, deadbolt, office equipment, padlock, emergency exit lock, security unit combination locks for safes, vaults, and cabinets; services varied types of locks and locking devices, such as limited part and components with few operating relationships, dual locking capabilities that interact with combination locks and actuating mechanisms, and security container locking bolts; installs locking mechanisms in doors, desks, office equipment and safes, replaces escutcheons and face plates, measures and cuts dial spindles, changes spline keys in drive cams, re-combinates or rekeys locking devices; opens locks with missing keys and removes broken keys from keyways; devises and changes combinations; neutralizes lockouts and manufactures and duplicates keys
• Troubleshoots locking systems and devices to determine extent and location of malfunction(s); locates problems and determines component malfunctions and conducts operational checks and tests
• Disassembles systems and devices; checks parts for wear or defects, such as broken springs, jammed pins, broken tailpieces, rust, and corrosion; cleans, repairs, replaces or fabricates defective parts when required; uses filing, drilling, chiseling or grinding processes; reassembles and reinstalls
• Utilizes coding systems involving types of locks and keyways; determines total number of locks discerning those that can be keyed alike and selects correct pin sizes - Uses varied trade tools and equipment to complete installation, maintenance, repair, and test duties - Constructs or repairs cement or concrete surfaces and structures requiring precise measurements; mixes, pours and finishes surfaces and structures
• Determines reinforcement steel and wire use; installs and arranges reinforcement material to obtain maximum strength
• Finishes surfaces to desired finish and texture by rubbing with abrasive stone, broom brushing or applying a smooth coat of cement
• Rolls, curbs, shapes drainage areas to proper grade and contour - Removes debris and keeps work areas clean and safe.

Work Schedule: 6:00am - 2:30pm, Noon - 8:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Carpenter/PD11877A
Physical Requirements: Work requires light to moderately heavy physical effort (10-90 lbs) while lifting, transporting, carrying, pulling, moving, handling, or setting up ladders, scaffolding, materials, tools, and equipment. Work requires kneeling, crouching, stooping, bending, climbing, walking and standing for long periods. Works from atop buildings, ladders, scaffolds, platforms, ground level, or places requiring climbing ladders and scaffolds in overhead, stretched, cramped, awkward, tiring and or uncomfortable positions. Uses hand, eye, leg and body coordination while performing assigned task. Works indoors and outdoors subject to extremes of weather. Exposed to dust and dirt while mixing mortar and concrete as well as sawdust when working with wood products. May be required to wear protective equipment or clothing; exposure to unusually dirty conditions that are damaging to clothing and footgear.

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.

Preferred Experience: Journeyman Carpenter with 5 years experience preferred but not required.

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 (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measurement and Layout
• 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

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.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

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