Locksmith

Summary

The Locksmith reports to the Chief of Facilities Management at the James Mountain Inhofe VAMC. The single focus of this position is repair, overhauling, modifying, testing, and installing a variety of locking devices typically found on doors, desks, compartments, mobile equipment, safes, vaults, and other secured locations.

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Duties

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Duties include, but are not limited to the following tasks:

• Repairs, modifies, and installs a variety of locking devices intended to secure doors, desks, compartments, mobile equipment, safes, vaults, and other secured locations.
• Manufactures, duplicates keys and keys (placing/changing) of combinations for locking mechanisms.
• Experience with the construction, operation, and functional characteristics of locking devices.
• Manufactures replacement parts, changes combinations, establishes and master key systems including pinning the cores and building the lock set assembly.
• Files, drills, chisels, and grinds materials to facilitate a variety of installation and repair processes.
• Disassembles, repairs, cleans, reassembles and reinstalls a large variety of moderate to extremely complex locking devices to include door modification or lock sets.
• Utilizes all tools required of the position including lock picking tools, files, drills, chisels, and grinders.
• Use measuring devices like a key depth gauge and a measuring tape in order to enact installation, repairs and maintenance.
• Skilled in usage of volt meter to establish correct parameters for electronic security systems installation, repairs, and maintenance.
• Provides expert advice to management on the most appropriate locks and systems for specific security requirements and be able to review blueprints.
• Attends seminars, trainings and carefully reviews trade journals and manuals to maintain expert knowledge of locks and associated hardware.
• Reads, interprets, applies technical manuals, manufacturers diagrams/specifications and be able to prepare diagrams to identify dimensions or special part requirements.
• Uses a large variety of intricate tools to perform this work and provide maintenance on the same.
• Uses a variety of tools and skill to work with total accuracy to preclude the destruction of expensive security items.
• Fabricates tools and parts from a variety of materials using welding equipment, hand tools and power tools such as grinders, lathes, milling machines, and drill presses.
• Troubleshoots malfunctioning components and required repairs
• Determines precise locations and angles for drilling without harming the contents or causing permanent damage to the mechanism or container.
• Examines all locks worked on for evidence of attempted neutralization and takes corrective action.

Work Schedule: 8:00- 4:30pm, Monday - Friday

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized

Position Description Title/PD#: Locksmith/PD13573A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

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
• 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, 08/17/2026.

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:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading)
• Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc.
• Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
• Troubleshooting
• Use of Measuring Instruments

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:

Work assignments require standing, stooping, bending, kneeling for prolonged periods as well as working in cramped and awkward positions. Incumbent is required to lift items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds.

Working Conditions:

Work is normally performed in a well-lighted, heated, and ventilated area. Occasionally work is done outside in inclement weather or in areas that are drafty and poorly lighted. Incumbent is exposed to the possibility of cuts, bruises, scrapes, and serious burns. Travel facilities assigned to offsite facilities logistically separated from the medical center is a regular occurrence.

Education

No education substitute

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.