Maintenance Mechanic

Summary

This position is located at the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS), Engineering Service, Biloxi, MS. The primary function of this position includes journeyman plumbing including carpentry, electric, painting, and general maintenance skills. Mechanics service and repair building and related fixtures on an emergency type basis, requiring the use of trade practices associated with occupations in the mechanical, electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and associated trades.

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Duties

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• Constructs, alters, repairs, and modifies items made of metal, wood, and wood substitutes.
• Assembles/disassembles, installs, repairs and modifies steel stud framing, wood and wood structures for structural soundness to include creating or working from complex drawings as a layout of the entire floor plan, ensuring assembly is consistent with building codes, safety standards, local standards, and manufacturing standards.
• Mixes and finishes plaster and applies to walls and ceilings, taking into consideration type of lathing, required thickness, weather conditions, etc.
• Selects proper tools and materials for work to be accomplished.
• Patches and repairs damaged plaster or stucco surfaces and repairs and finishes gypsum walls by applying joint compound and tape to cracks and joints.
• Removes and installs flooring, ceramic tile, structural and glazed tiles for walls, floors and ceilings in medical offices and various locations each requiring special consideration due to type of activity, location and, infectious control requirements.
• Maintains, repairs, alters and renovates the interior and exterior structures built from concrete, block, ceramic tiles by preparing and spreading mortar or adhesive, cutting, shaping, and laying blocks and tiles, and finishing joints.
• Locate leaks, determines cause and extent of damages to the facility, and determines the type of work to be conducted and proper techniques and methods.
• Reads, interprets, plans, lays out and performs work accordingly to building plans, blueprints, drawings, as-builts, oral and written instructions and from maintenance complaints or requests.
• Applies materials or paint using acceptable trade methods such as brushes, rollers, spray guns, graining devices and devices that give special effects.
• Examines and assesses state of aged or damaged structures and equipment.
• Operates tools such as a table saw, circular saw, drill press, jack hammer, hand tools, measuring devices, and other equipment that are required by carpenters.
• Conducts medical facility oversight and rounding for LP steam and hot water boilers from OHE.
• Startup, warm up and shutdown of boiler. Operation of all equipment and controls.
• Have skill in operating and using power and hand tools and other woodworking equipment such as portable drills, clippers, joiners, shavers, tenoners, sanders, routers, power activated nailers, combustion type saws, screw fasteners, drill presses, and table saws.
• Performs work from verbal instructions, work orders, and wiring diagrams. Voltage is usually from 120 to 277 volts.
• Must have the ability to read and follow directions that explain how to apply and use prepared solvents and thin and stir coating materials.
• Repairs and installs wall and door framing, drywall, including taping and spackling and use of plaster when situations warrant.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday - 3:30PM - 12:00AM - subject to change based upon facility needs.

Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD03520A

Physical Requirements : Maintenance Mechanic will be required to lift, carry, push or pull a variety of materials and equipment in excess of 40-lbs, such as fixtures, tools, ladders, and testing equipment and will occasionally handle items weighing in excess of 100-lbs. Will also be required to walk, stand, bend, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions to make necessary repairs.

Working Conditions: Maintenance Mechanic will be required to perform work inside and outside buildings. Will be exposed to inclement weather, dirt, sewage, dust, fumes, and steam at all times. Will also be exposed to hazards of electrical shock and burns, as well as grease, chemical solutions, and falls from ladders or scaffolds. Incumbent will be subject to injury from use of hand and power tools, cuts, and bruises. Will be subject to emergency call outs 24-hours a day, 7-days per week, and may from time to time be scheduled for weekend or night work, as needed. Incumbent will be aware of all job-specific health hazards and will wear the appropriate/required personal protective equipment (PPE). Incumbent will inform supervisor of any unusual health hazards encountered for guidance as necessary.

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
• 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.
• Must be able to independently operate a Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
• Driver's License: A current, valid state-issued Driver's License 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 current, valid state-issued Driver's License.
• Must successfully pass a pre-employment examination.

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:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment

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.