Engineering Equipment Operator

Summary

You will serve as the Engineering Equipment Operator with the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Tacoma, Washington.

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Duties

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Duties include but not limited to:

• Have a valid and current CDL Class A or Class B license.
• Operate equipment such as tractors with bulldozer or angle dozer blades, front end loaders, backhoes, trench diggers, tracked construction equipment, and trucks more than 32,000 pounds.
• Operate one or more types of heavy equipment to push, pull, pile, or load materials (such as: sand, gravel, earth, coal, or refuse).
• Use equipment which is fitted with a front-end loader or backhoe to maneuver or transfer material into a dump truck.
• Operate hydraulic wheelchair lifts when operating vehicles that are equipped to transport patients using wheelchairs.
• Operate street sweepers.
• Operate retractable boom lifts, scissor lifts for cleaning gutters and pruning treetops.
• Transport patients, staff, and visitors to and from the Medical Center over public highways and within the grounds of the facility.
• Load passenger baggage and equipment in the vehicle baggage department, ensuring that it is properly distributed and balanced to prevent shifting and breakage while in transit.
• Operate power tools and grounds equipment such as weed eaters, edgers, and blowers.
• Operate vehicles on interstate highways, winding roads, and steep grades and able to manipulate the dual braking system.
• Maneuver vehicles through congested, narrow streets, with sharp turns.
• Properly and safely load materials for hauling.
• Perform operator maintenance on all operated vehicles (e.g., monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, checking tire pressure and hose connections, and washing the vehicle).
• Dig within close distance to make repairs on electrical, water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer lines.
• Perform grounds maintenance with manual or fuel powered equipment.
• Trap, remove, and relocate wildlife and nuance animals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 10:30am to 07:00pm

Position Description Title/PD#: Engineering Equipment Operator/PD41198A

Physical Requirements : The incumbent is required to have good muscular coordination of foot, legs, eyes, hands and arms in the safe operation of the vehicle. The incumbent must possess the physical strength required to operate a large truck, change tires, install chains, load cargo and have the strength and endurance to perform heavy physical labor.

• The physical requirements of this position are equal to those of an outdoor construction mechanic. Besides the adverse demands of rainy and cold weather, incumbent is required to climb considerable heights to clean roofs and gutters, operate chain type mechanical timber saws, pike poles, wrecking bars, block and tackles, assorted rigging devices, heavy pneumatic drills and concrete breaks, lift and handle heavy objects and other appurtenances required for the daily execution of the duties outlined above. In addition to the exterior work, incumbent must be able to lift and carry heavy objects of furniture, crates, bulky materials, heavy fixtures and other similar items of fixed equipment and the like.

Requirements

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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 ( 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 within 30 days of 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:

• Drive Safely
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations)
• Motor Vehicles
• Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
• Reliability And Dependability
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

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.

Work Conditions: Work is performed in all types of weather conditions. Duties are performed outdoors in all kinds of weather. Bad-weather or hazardous conditions of roads prohibits the use of bus to transport patients. Incumbent is subject to dust, grease, soiling of work clothes and skin surfaces. At frequent intervals, the incumbent must work at considerable height, within earthwork excavations, in semi-hazardous timber removal, and in insecure operations of caterpillar equipment over rough terrain. Incumbent is subject to being hit by flying objects and debris. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn at- all-times when performing these duties. Incumbent will be responsible for the safe operations of all laws and regulations thereby avoiding any injury to patients, public or self- avoiding damage to vehicles.

Driver : You MUST possess a valid State license, have a safe driving record, can pass a road test, and demonstrate that you are medically qualified to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Education

There is no educational substitute for this position.

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

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.