Carpenter

Summary

The Carpenter is in the Building Maintenance Unit of the Maintenance and Operations section, Engineering Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. The incumbent's duties consist of general carpentry, cabinet installations and repairs, laminate installations and repairs, drywall installation and finishing.

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Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Design, fabrication and installation of cabinets, shelves, benches, displays, frames, etc. most of this type of work must be custom made to fit around or between permanent objects. Lab counter tops, shelves, and other similar items are required to be covered eith Formica, incumbent sets door frames, hang doors, cuts door openings in masonry walls, installs locks and panic hardware, lays floor tile, replaces/installs ceiling tiles, mounts and adjust door closers.
• Hangs and finishes drywall. This work consists of constructing walls, repairing damaged walls that contain holes, cracks, broken gypsum board, drywall board or metal lath; taping of joints, installation of plaster or similar drywall material and finishing the walls or ceiling to a smooth surface without cracks or ridges.
• Prepares surfaces for painting by scraping, sanding, filling cracks with filler, etc.
• Repairs/replaces floor tile and ceiling tile, repairs floors, expansion joints, furniture, etc. This requires the ability to match existing patterns and colors.
• Responsible for the cleaning and proper care of all the tools and equipment he uses and for safe work practices at all time to prevent injury to personal or damage to government property. Incumbent prepares requests for parts, tools, materials and services as required.
• Incumbent, by the nature of the work, often works with other crafts.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:00am - 3:30pm

Position Description Title/PD#: Carpenter/PD260118A

Physical Requirements :

• The duties of this position require physical exertion involving lifting, pushing, or carrying objects of varying weights, sizes and shapes;
• Physical effort is exerted in walking, running, climbing, crawling, and bending;
• Strain related to lack of movement such as standing in place, crouching, or stooping for extended periods of time. Considerable fatigue results from working overhead, such as hanging and finishing drywall, painting plaster ceiling and ceiling tile.

Working Conditions:

• Lighting, heating and ventilation in work area - Incumbent is exposed to heat, restricted ventilation and poor illumination in areas such as equipment rooms;
• Weather conditions to which exposed when working outdoors - Incumbent is exposed to all weather conditions when working outside (parking areas, roof, etc.);
• Temperatures to which exposed in the work area - Incumbent is exposed to varying climatic conditions from an office to environmentally controlled space, to excessive heat such as in the boiler plant;
• Dust, grease, and soiling of clothing and skin surfaces - Incumbent is exposed to various hazardous materials in the course of performing work assignments. Selectee provided with protective clothing, equipment and safety devices for personal protection;
• Noise and vibration - The equipment. rooms are above the normal decibel rating and hearing protection is provided;
• Gases and fumes - Hazardous gases/fumes are in the work environment during various tasks. Respiratory protection is provided for the incumbent;
• Hazards in the work environment - Incumbent is at risk of injury from falls, burns, bruises and cuts. Incumbent works on tall ladders and scaffolds using dangerous power tools. Incumbent works in crowded areas and around moving machinery. Incumbent is also required to work in patient areas which are contaminated with various diseases including HIV, TB, and is issued personal protective
  equipment/clothing to be worn.

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 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:

• Carpentry/Woodworking
• Education and Training
• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Measurement and Layout
• Technical Practices
• 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Working knowledge of regulatory standards ( such as NFPA and OSHA) for fire doors, egress routes, and barrier.
• Familiarity with Construction ICRA protocols is a major advantage. This ensures the carpenter knows how to contain dust, mold, and airborne pathogens in occupied patient care areas.
• At least 3-5 years in commercial or heavy-duty environments, including expertise in metal framing, drywall installation, acoustic ceiling tiles, and commercial flooring.
• Ability to build, repair, and install cabinets, countertops, doors, locks and panic hardware.
• Strong communication skills are necessary to coordinate with nurses, facility managers, and medical staff without disrupting patient care.
• Proficiency in utilizing Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) to track, manage, and close work orders.

Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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.