This Engineering Equipment Operator position is within the Facilities Management Service at the Bedford VA Healthcare System, located in Bedford, Massachusetts. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

This position is located at an assigned Veterans Affairs medical facility performing work to handle different sets of controls to operate the equipment and attachments involved in the operation of gasoline- and diesel-powered engineering, and construction equipment with wheeled traction. Duties include, but are not limited to: Improves and maintains the appearance of lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, walkways, recreational areas, roads and parking lots; Removes trash and debris around the station; Shovels and removes snow using hand, power, and heavy equipment; Operates one or more types of heavy equipment to push, pull, pile, or load materials such as sand, gravel, earth, snow, or refuse; Adjusts attachments for proper positioning and working order usually without stopping the power unit or the equipment; Steers and operates equipment by using clutches, levers, brakes, and valves according to the slope or tilt; Fills dump trucks and equipment with material such as salt, sand, loam, and mulch; Performs preventative maintenance prior to, during and after operation; Works from project plans, master landscape, and long-range plans, making independent judgments within the framework of good gardening practices; and Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available Position Description Title/PD#: Engineering Equipment Operator/PD518-03709-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Notifications: Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. 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 must 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. This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/22/2024. 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 SafelyOperation of Equipment/MachineryShop PracticesWithout 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. Physical Requirements: a. requires moderate to heavy physical effort with constantly reaching, bending, turning and moving hands, arms, feet and legs to operate different controls and attachments on various types of equipment. b. requires frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, jumping, and exposure to constant vibrations and jolting caused by movement of equipment over uneven and rough terrain, and running of other power tools. c. requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows. d. requires lifting and moving weight exceeding 50 pounds with or without assistance. e. occasionally moves heavier items with assistance of other workers or mechanical lifting devices. f. requires the ability to climb ladders and stretch to reach tree limbs g. may cause considerable strain by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating over rough surfaces. h. may frequently be required to work in awkward or strained positions because of the location of some of the controls and attachments on the equipment. i. is somewhat more strenuous because of the generally larger pieces of equipment and the requirement for more frequent adjustments under more adverse operating conditions. Working Conditions: a. Work is performed outside subject to discomfort from long periods in the sun, and cold, windy or inclement weather, being exposed to insects, dirt, dust, mud, water and sometimes to chemical sprays and dusts, b. Incumbent shall perform snow and ice removal using equipment, hand tools, in addition to chemicals of various types, without injury to plant material. c. Incumbent performs work in all types of weather, often in an open driver's seat or platform, on hills, slopes, grades, and rolling surfaces. d. Incumbent will wear personal protective equipment such as protective clothing, gloves, and safety shoes/boots as required and is mandatory. e. There is chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and occasional possibility of broken bones from falls. f. Incumbent is subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from motors and exhausts. g. Incumbent may be exposed to noise levels exceeding 85dBA for up to eight (8) hours per day. This exposure may adversely affect hearing. Wearing of hearing protection that will contain the noise level to 85dBA or below is mandatory while operating equipment. While wearing hearing protection devices, the incumbent must still be able to hear at a level to perform duties in a safe manner. h. Incumbent may be exposed to injury due to the possibility of the equipment overturning. i. The position is required to work shifts other than their normal tour of duty when the situation dictates. These assignments will be determined by the Grounds Supervisor.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address VA Bedford Healthcare System 200 Springs Road Bedford, MA 01730 US
• Name: Samantha Roberts
• Phone: 612-978-6318
• Email: [email protected]