Tractor Operator

Summary

The Tractor Operator position is located in the Grounds Unit of the Maintenance and Operations section. The incumbent will operate various forms of heavy equipment to include lawn mowers, tractors, dump trucks, gardening equipment, etc., for the upkeep of the facility grounds.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

As the Tractor Operator, the incumbent's duties include, but are not limited to:

• Operate farm and industrial tractors, dump trucks, stake trucks, platform high reach trucks, pick-up trucks, bulldozer, backhoe, vans, station wagons, etc.
• Operate tractors with various types of attachments (gang mowers, rotary mowers, dozer blade, plows, disk and front and loader scoops, etc.)
• Use of various types of hand tools used in the maintenance and care of the medical grounds.
• Inspect and perform operator maintenance on all tractors and motor vehicles operated.
• Perform laborer tasks, operate powered lawn maintenance equipment such as riding lawn mowers, edger, hedge clippers and street sweepers.
• Work as a gardener doing seasonal gardening tasks.
• Observe plants for overgrowth, thins and or transplants to other locations as needed.
• Look for plant diseases and plant insects and report findings to supervisor.
• Maintain knowledge of plants and gardening procedures to apply the kinds and amounts of fertilizer routinely used for flowers, shrubs and trees.
• Drive motor vehicles used at the medical center such as a dump truck to haul dirt, tree limbs, stumps, etc.

* The Tractor Operator incumbent must possess and maintain a current, valid state driver's license. (If selected, a copy of your legible, valid state driver's license will be requested.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 3:30 PM

Position Description Title/PD#: Tractor Operator/PD70146A

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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 Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• The Tractor Operator incumbent must possess and maintain a current, valid state driver's license. (If selected, a copy of your legible, valid state driver's license will be requested.)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 07/09/2026.

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
• 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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: The position requires physical exertion involving lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects of varying weights and shapes. Physical effort is exerted in walking, running, climbing, crawling, and bending. The incumbent is required to work on steep banks, slick walks and roads. In performing outside work, he/she is frequently exposed to severe jolting from the equipment. Incumbent is exposed to all weather conditions when working outside. Temperatures to which exposed in the work area are varying conditions. Incumbent is exposed to various hazardous materials in the course of performing work assignments.

* The Tractor Operator incumbent must possess and maintain a current, valid state driver's license. (If selected, a copy of your legible, valid state driver's license will be requested.)

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

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.

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.

Help

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.

Review our benefits

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.