Painter

Summary

The Detroit VA Medical Center is hiring for a Painter with the experience to apply paint, dry wall tape, hang wallpaper by using brushes, rollers, sprayers, and other application tools. Can follow a line free hand, match and mix paints, patch holes and cracks in plaster, replace window and door glass as well as glaze and seal the installation. The purpose of this position is to provide painting, wall covering, glass replacement and sign making at a journeyman level for the Medical Center.

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Duties

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Applies paint coating materials with any of the accepted trade devices including those designed to give special effects which the painter sees that the coating finish meets match, texture, decorative, thickness, and level requirements. Prepares surfaces by methods such as smoothing with pumice and rotten stone, filling, shaping, and leveling with metal and synthetic resins, and mixing and applying pre-coating agents such as pickling and alkali compounds. Uses standard tools and equipment such as brushes, rollers, spray guns, trowels, screeds, straight edges, viscosity testers, graining devices, and wet and other thickness gauges.

Prepares surfaces and uses appropriate coating techniques in performing painting duties. Prepares surfaces and applies coating techniques that will insure surfaces have a smooth-textured and decorative appearance and meet thickness and level requirements. Determines the methods, techniques, devices, and materials that are best suited to the surface finish required using a glossy finish, grained effect, or a finish that must meet specified thickness and levels. Insures that surfaces meet smoothness, level and shape requirements by tinting, toning, matching and blending coating materials and adds various agents and combines coating mixtures to get the proper color, texture, consistency and drying state.

Prepares surfaces for plaster application. Finishes new plaster surfaces as well as repairs and patches existing surfaces. Mixes and applies plastering materials for application on all types of backgrounds such as metal, wood, or gypsum lath, wallboard, and masonry surfaces. In repairing damaged areas, determines how much old plaster to remove to obtain a firm surface and whether to replace lath. In accomplishing repairing or patching, prepares damaged areas to ensure that the new plaster adheres to the surface and surrounding plaster. Installs or replaces metal, wood, wallboard, or gypsum lath. Applies base or scratch coat to ensure that it adheres firmly to lath or other sub surfaces. Determines when the base coat and second or brown coat is properly set and scored before additional coats are applied. Mixes all types of plastering materials such as base coat gypsum, line plaster, concrete bonding plaster, and finishing plaster. Mixes colored stucco in order to blend coloring matter and aggregate to obtain the desired color.

Performs a variety of exacting plaster work such as running baseboards, moldings, cornices, and applying special finishes. Constructs molded plaster cornices, plaster panels, and trim and attaches them to walls. Applies tape to joints between wallboards to assure an even surface. Completes finishing work to obtain a smooth surface and proper texture. Performs angular, rounded, and overhead plastering.

Plans and lays out work to be accomplished and selects the proper tools, materials, and methods to be used to complete the job in accordance with accepted trade practices. Plans and lays out work using building plans, blueprints, rough sketches, and work orders. Selects proper tools, materials, and methods to use in accomplishing the work.Uses surface finishing tools (i.e., trowel, float, screens, darby, plasterer's hawk and straight edges) or texturing tools (i.e., brushes, sponges, and other materials) as appropriate. Assures that proper plastering materials are used to fit the job requirements. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 2:00pm - 10:30pm

Position Description Title/PD#: Painter/PD05948A

Physical Requirements : The painting workers prepare and coat surfaces from ladders, scaffolds, and platforms, and where the surfaces to be coated are in cramped and hard-to-reach places. This requires them to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. The painting workers frequently lift, carry, and set up materials and equipment that weigh up to 5 kilograms (10 pounds). Occasionally, they may handle materials and equipment that weigh 18 kilograms (40 pounds) and over.

The work is done inside and outside, and dirt, spray, and fumes are usually present. The painting workers are sometimes required to prepare and coat surfaces outside in bad weather. Occasionally, they may be required to wear protective equipment and clothing that are sometimes heavy and uncomfortable. The painting workers are frequently exposed to the possibility of cuts and bruises. They may occasionally be exposed to the possibility of broken bones.

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:

• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Painting
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• 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.

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.