Maintenance Mechanic

Summary The incumbent is employed as a journeyman maintenance mechanic at the two division Veterans Administration Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky. This position encompasses application of basic skills and technical practices from various maintenance trades to include carpentry, facility maintenance, painting, masonry, wallpaper/vinyl hanging. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. Responsibilities The incumbent selects materials and tools, maintains inventory of supplies, determines techniques and tools required, and coordinates with other services and individuals to ensure patient access to care is uninterrupted. Incumbent is responsible for the following duties: Carpentry The incumbent performs carpentry alterations, erection of partitions using wood and metal studs, furring out walls, hanging drywall, hang doors, repair and construct window screens, screen doors, and storm windows and doors, builds forms for concrete. Some lead-lined drywall may be utilized requiring familiarity with procedures for insuring containment of splatter radiation. Install and repair all types of floor coverings such as, asphalt and vinyl tile, wood floors, and carpeting install and repair all types of roofing and guttering and install various types of ceiling tile and track, including fiberglass soundproof ceiling tile. Incumbent uses power tools such as radial saws, band saws, electric hand saws, electric joiners and planers (both fixed and portable), assists in keeping all tools used in his section in good repair and working condition. Plastering Incumbent must have the knowledge and ability to clean out the bad plaster, prepare the surface and repair utilizing scratch and finish coats. Plastering is done on a variety of surfaces such as clay tile; plaster board, metal lathe, and corner bead. Proper cement mortar must be mixed for bond and strength. Walls must be in the true alignment according to plans and existing features. Reinforcement is used for horizontal joints and lintels. Masonry Incumbent utilizes a variety of masonry products and techniques including concrete, concrete blocks, brick, clay tile, terrazzo and terra cotta in constructing and maintaining horizontal and vertical structures within the Medical Center, at times in accordance with stringent NFPA requirements. Wallpaper/Vinyl Hanging Incumbent must have knowledge for preparation of all types of wall surfaces for hanging all types of residential and commercial grades of wallpaper. Assess existing surfaces for necessary surface preparation, proper paste and appropriate covering material. Painting Incumbent paints the interior and exterior of approximately 46 buildings ranging in height from one story to eight stories. Incumbent must have expert knowledge in the application of paint such as latex, enamel, polyurethane, epoxy, metallics, acrylics and urethane varnish. Incumbent must have knowledge of stains to finish hand rubbed doors and fabricated items. Incumbent must be capable of adapting joint dimensions, mortar mix/selection and trade techniques to a variety of existing site conditions as well as coordinating work with weather changes. General Maintenance Incumbent completes various general facility maintenance tasks to include assisting Electrician, HVAC, and Plumbing shops with non-technical tasks. Incumbent may be assigned to other duties. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD30114A Physical Requirements: Work involves standing, bending, sitting, squatting, and kneeling for long periods of time in cramped position. May be required to crawl into tight places or climb to heights as much as 100 feet from the ground and then perform duties at this height. Physical effort requires hand sawing, nailing and lifting large articles or assemblies. Work is carried on both inside and outside in fair weather and foul, in ventilated and unventilated areas, and subject to cuts and bruises during work processes. 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 ( 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: Architecture Environmental Engineering Reading Comprehension Risk Management 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 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.