Motor Vehicle Operator

Summary

This position is within the Health Administration Service at the Augusta, Maine, VA Maine Healthcare System and supports the surrounding catchment area. The primary purpose of this Motor Vehicle Operator position is transporting Veterans to various locations at medical facility and any additional location as assigned. This position is full-time.

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Duties

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To provide transportation and patient care for patients traveling to treatment sites within the community and other VA Medical Centers.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to :

• Operate light duty vehicles such as Sedans, mini vans, 8 passenger vans, pickup trucks, light duty construction utility vehicles, and patient transport vehicles to pick up and transport patients under nonemergency conditions from one location to another such as from an airport to a hospital or from one hospital to another.
• Drive on public roads at controlled speeds to ensure the patient's comfort.
• Drive shuttle vans on special runs for meetings and other activities.
• Adhere to all State, local, and installation traffic laws and ordinances.
• Maneuver the vehicle in and out of constricted areas including narrow city streets and congested parking lots.
• Drivers of ambulance or patient transport vehicles may be required to know basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques to assist medical technicians in treating patients when requested.
• Drivers of Courier Operations require transportation of platelets, specimens, and lab samples. between local hospitals, state hospitals and federal hospitals. As well as their affiliated clinics.
• Completes documentation related to transport such as trip tickets and fuel consumption.
• Completes routine log trips, maintenance, and safety checks on vehicles to be operated.
• Reports malfunction of vehicle and equipment.
• Refuels vehicles as needed prior to transport.
• Cleans vehicles both inside and outside.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm

Position Description Title/PD#: Motor Vehicle Operator/PD402-03706-A

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Notification:

• This position is in the Competitive Service.
• This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.
• Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Pre-employment physical required.
• Selectee must have a safe driving record.
• Selectee must have a valid unrestricted driving license.
• 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 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, 10/05/2026.

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
• Without more than normal supervision
• 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:

1. Work involves operation of gasoline, electric and diesel-powered vehicles capable of carrying loads weighing more than thirty pounds. Involves varying periods of sitting, standing, and walking. Working with patients and other assigned duties requires bending, stooping, stretching, lifting, balancing, kneeling, pushing, i.e., wheelchairs and stretchers. The employee will be required to load the stretcher in the horizontal transport vehicle, as necessary.

2. Other Facilities Management functions will be performed when employee is not assigned to transportation. This may require heavy physical work including, but not limited to, snow removal and other physical work.

3. Must possess physical stamina and mental alertness for driving and laboring for long periods of time.

Working Conditions:

Duties are performed at this Medical Center and at other community and VA facilities. Transporting and caring for patients on trips away from the Medical Center grounds requires diplomacy by the employee when meeting the public and skill in patient observation. The employee may need to drive in severe weather conditions. In addition, may be assigned to duties outdoors at all hours (day and night) during extreme weather conditions, in some situations this is mandatory, i.e. Snowstorms and blizzards, if not assigned specifically to transportation activities. The employee is required to wear special protective clothing and equipment (PPE) as warranted to complete their assignments.

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.