Automotive Mechanic

Summary

The employee will serve as the Automotive Mechanic at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV for the Grounds/Transportation section.

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Duties

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Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Fixes portable units, emergency power generators, dirt and soil compaction equipment, pneumatic air jackhammers, spades and drills;
• Repairs, adjustments and overhaul to hydraulic units, stationery and portable;
• Completes minor overhauls which includes totally rebuilding or replacing numerous mechanical and / or electrical components of equipment or vehicles;
• Prepares purchase order requests for vendor services;
• Performs routine scheduled preventive maintenance; writes, completes and closes work orders as required;
• Diagnoses and locates trouble using appropriate test tools;
• Traces and locates defects and causes of mechanical problems and determine type and extent of necessary repairs;
• Uses technical manuals, illustration, diagrams, schematics and similar guides covering the complete assembly, trouble shooting, layout and repair;
• Grounds, grooms and maintains equipment such as power sweepers, mowers, lawn edgers, chain saws, hedge trimmers and other related tools and equipment;
• Grounds material and attachment handling equipment such as utility wheeled tractors, trucks and offroad vehicles;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION : 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Requirements

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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
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• 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)

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

COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE : A valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Air Brake and Passenger endorsement is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued Commercial Driver's License.

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: The work is frequently performed in the field without shelter and in awkward positions. Injury hazard is higher than in most grounds' trades. A high degree of manipulation and muscular effort is required and is higher than in most grounds' trades. The employee is also physically subject to strains from lifting heavy pieces of equipment, parts and tools.The employee is subjected to all hazards normally encountered in the ground's maintenance, such as exposure to weather elements, potential hazards for insecticides, pesticides, fumes, etc. There is exposure to possible cuts, scrapes, burns, grease, oil and electrical shock. The employee is exposed to engine exhaust fumes, dust and grime, also grass and pollens and as such allergies may develop or these conditions may aggravate existing allergies. The employee must be vigilante and alert to possible exposure to tripping and other operational hazards.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Technical Practices
• Troubleshooting
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.

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.

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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.