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.

Primary Duties include:

• Preparing, painting, and refinishing interior and exterior buildings surfaces and other structures, furniture, equipment and machinery; removing and installing floor and ceiling tile, stud walls, and gypsum wall board, windows and doors; replacing electrical lamps and air conditioning filters; and other duties as assigned.
• Carpentry - Repairs and maintains wooden structures such as furniture, railings, shelves, doors, bulletin boards, etc. Repairs cabinet and locker doors to include hardware, locks, tracks, etc. Installs and replaces ceiling tiles, bumper rails, handrails, comer guards, cove base, and other parts of buildings using hand and power tools.
• Plumbing - Makes repairs and performs installation of existing utilities and disposal systems. Incumbent inspects, repairs and replaces fittings and plumbing fixtures to maintain water and drainage systems. Repairs flush valves, faucets, showers, vacuum breakers, or other parts in leaky valves, water closets, etc. Must be knowledgeable of how various supply disposal and utility systems operate in order to perform preventive maintenance inspections and make necessary repairs.
• Electrical - Inspects and tests electrical lighting, power circuits and ballast transformers, and other simple elements of electrical systems, fixtures, and appliances. Renews circuits either by isolation and cutting out defective wiring and replacing it with new wiring, or by splicing ends of broken wires. Replaces and installs light fixtures, ballasts, fluorescent tubes, electrical outlets, light switches, etc.
• Painting - Knowledge of standard surface preparation and coating methods and techniques. Must know how to apply coating materials so that the surfaces are free from skips, runs, and drips. Must have the skill needed to sand, wire brush, scrape, spackle, and putty surfaces. Must also have the skill needed to brush out, roll on, and spray coating materials, as well as the skill needed to apply other related methods and techniques. Must have skill in the use of tools and equipment.
• Air Conditioning - Maintenance Worker must be skilled in the installation, repair, modification and preventive maintenance of most heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. This factor includes following local and national safety rules and guidelines, efficient use of all specialized tools used in the HVAC trade such as, measuring equipment (refrigeration gauges, electrical meters, air measuring devices), hand tools (torches, vacuum pumps, refrigerant recovery devices), and any other specialized tool unique to the HVAC trade. Replaces and repairs thermostats, adjusts temperature settings, cleans and replaces filters; repairs and adjusts VAV boxes, makes minor repairs to ice machines, etc.
• Worker ensures that materials and tools are at work sites, checks tools and equipment for safe and proper operating condition and ensures all flammable/hazardous substances are stored properly.
• Responsible to ensure a variety of safety and environmental regulations are in compliance by adhering to requirements set forth by safety and GEMS office personnel and Supervisor.
• Must have the ability to interpret and apply building plans and blueprints, and to use shop mathematics to lay out angles, arcs, and circles.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 8:00a-4:30p
Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Worker/PD035370 and PD078780

Physical Requirements: The duties require considerable movement. Works from ladders, platforms and in hard to reach locations. Requires standing, stooping, crawling, bending, kneeling and lifting. May occasionally be required to lift/move objects weighing 50 pounds or more. Position requires the ability to lift heavy objects; carry, push or pull a variety of materials and equipment such as fixtures, tools, ladders, and testing equipment. Duties involve climbing, pulling, and walking for prolonged periods.

Work Conditions: Work may be done indoors or outdoors. Worker will be exposed to the elements accordingly. Subject to dirt, noise, lubricants and solvents, hazards of cuts, bruises, electrical shock, steam, heat, and potential eye contamination. Following proper procedures and wearing proper protective equipment to minimize risk is required.

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:


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.

Documents Required:

• Resume

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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.

Next steps