Maintenance Mechanic

Summary

This position is located within Facilities Management Service (FMS) at the VA Portland Medical Center and combines the duties of a journeyman carpenter, journeyman painter and a journeyman sign maker in order to provide more flexibility in the assignment of work.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• The incumbent as a journeyman carpenter will be required to work on construction, alteration, repair and modification of structures such as: framework, doors, finish paneling, windows, rough furniture, interior and exterior trim, rafters, trusses and beams, where accuracy, spacing and fit are essential and appearance is important. Uses skilled techniques to construct, install, repair, and modify wood and wood substitute structures and items requiring close tolerance fit and structural soundness.
• Carpenter plans and completes projects from layouts to final assembly. Must be able to work from blueprints, sketches and work orders. Incumbent is able to interpret drawings, blueprints, and specifications independently, and determine the layout and work sequences and types of lumber or special related materials. Accuracy, spacing, fit, and structural soundness and finished appearance are essential. Must be able to construct straight angles and curved cuts which must be exact.
• Must be able to assemble installations where items are closely joined to other assemblies to strengthen and support or to provide air and weather tight fits. Must know how to replace glass window panes, layout and install metal and wood studs for sheetrock and plastered walls, install drop ceilings, repair roofs and flashing of buildings, etc. Mixes concrete and installs footings, curbs, walls and like construction. Lays and repairs floor coverings and installs plastic coverings on counter tops and other related items.
• Performs plastering on all types of backgrounds such as metal, wood or gypsum lath, wallboard and masonry surfaces, as well as repair patching of plaster and stucco surfaces. All work and tool machinery use will be done in a safe manner in accordance with V.A. and Medical Center guidelines as published. Performs preventive maintenance/inspections on tools and equipment and machinery related to trade.
• Construct and repair a wide variety of structural items such as building frames, rafters, concrete forms, walls, staircases, door and window frames, interior and exterior trim, and miscellaneous items such as workbenches, counter tops, bookcases, equipment cabinets, computer consoles, and items requiring limited decorative trim and molding. Construct air and weather tight assemblies such as equipment shelters.
• Sets up and operate a wide variety of wood working machines and tools. Assemble items with a variety of joining techniques such as miters, rabbets, dados, biscuit, and mortise and tenon, and use glues and adhesives to secure wood pieces, veneers, and counter tops. Use wood, metal, and various composite materials when installing or replacing interior partitions, flooring, panels, suspended ceilings, counter tops, and moldings. Accuracy, spacing, fit, and structural soundness and finished appearance are essential.
• As a journeyman painter the incumbent will apply special coating methods utilizing accepted methods which includes special finishing techniques such as marbling and graining by using coating materials that are prepared in special as well as common ways. The journeyman painter applies 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. The painter 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.
• The incumbent will be required to prepares surfaces and use 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.
• The incumbent as a Journeyman sign painter will apply a variety of graphic arts techniques, fabricates and install signs for interior/exterior use ensuring proper margins, spacing and formation of letters. Orders signs and materials as required from commercial vendors, etc.

Work Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday; 2:00 pm - 10:30 pm PST

Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD21434A

Physical Requirements : Continual movement of hand and arm, standing, reaching, and bending. Medium to heavy lifting (10 pounds to 40 pounds) and carrying, working in awkward conditions, overhead, cramped quarters, bending, stooping, climbing ladders and stairs, working from scaffolding and ladders. Requires good eye-hand coordination.

Requirements

Help

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.

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. Ability to do the work of a Maintenance Mechanic (Carpenter and Painter) without more than normal supervision. Examples include: constructing and repairing a wide variety of structural items such as building frames, rafters, concrete forms, walls, staircases, door and window frames, interior and exterior trim, and miscellaneous items such as workbenches, counter tops, bookcases, equipment cabinets, computer consoles, and items requiring limited decorative trim and molding. Working from blueprints, sketches and work orders; planning and completing projects from layouts to final assembly. Preparing surfaces and using appropriate coating techniques in performing painting duties; using accepted methods which includes special finishing techniques such as marbling and graining by applying coating materials with any of the accepted trade devices including those designed to give special effects which meets match, texture, decorative, thickness, and level requirements.

The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• 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

There is no education substitution for this series/grade.

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

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.

Help

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.

Review our benefits

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.