Tractor Operator

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Asheville, NC under Environmental Management Services. The primary duties of the Tractor Operator involve all aspects of Tractor Operations for all grounds and operating ground maintenance equipment.

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Duties

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Major duties and responsibilities will include:

• Operates farm-type tractors, backhoe attachments and front end loaders;
• Operates trucks for delivery of items from one area to another, such as supplies, equipment, furniture, food, soiled linen etc.;
• Operates mowers to mow lawns, to remove leaves, to remove snow, clean parking lots, roads, sidewalks, entranceways, and to remove and replace soil;
• Performs daily cleaning and maintenance of tractor, truck and all equipment used;
• Performs backhoe operations and snow/ice removal;
• Plants trees, shrubs and flower beds;
• Keeps trash and debris removed from roadways, sidewalks and entrances;
• Performs other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Full - Time, 6:00am-2:30pm 40 hours a week which includes one weekend day, which will be determined by service

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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

To apply for this position, you must have the following qualifications:

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SCREEN-OUT) - A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) has been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration.

The SPF for this position is: Requires a current and valid North Carolina driver's license. 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 Commercial Driver's License. (Note: We may not accept pictures. Please Do Not submit a copy of your license. This requirement will be verified if interviewed.)

AND

SCREEN-OUT: Ability to do the work of a Tractor Operator without more than normal supervision. To qualify for this position, experience must include: operating various patient transport vehicles utilizing lift systems when loading/unloading passengers; reading and understanding road maps to determine the most efficient and safest route to take; conducting driver maintenance and vehicle inspection; and utilizing work-issued communication devices (i.e., cell phone; two-way radio) to sufficiently communicate with dispatch and liaising with professional staff to expedite emergency. (Resume must clearly detail the above experience to receive credit.)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Physical demands will involve frequent bending, stooping, reaching with both legs, and arm movement to operate truck and tractor like equipment. The incumbent is expected to apply heavy physical effort in doing such tasks as frequently lifting and moving objects and operating (push type) power mowers on rough terrain or pushing heavy equipment attachments. Precise work is required when performing backhoe operations and snow/ice removal.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Generally work is performed outside in all kinds of weather, including freezing conditions. Work is dirty, dusty, and noisy. Equipment operated requires special care to avoid serious injury. Incumbent must utilize proper personal protective equipment. Incumbent is subject to falls, bruises, cuts, and occasional broken bones. Incumbent may be exposed to injury from overturned tractors, which are operated on steep grades and slopes.

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:

• Drive Safely
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations)
• Motor Vehicles
• Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
• Reliability And Dependability
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

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.