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

Duties

The position reports to and is accountable to the Grounds Supervisor for the quality and quantity of work performed by the work unit. Engineering Equipment Operator - 50 Percent: a. 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. This includes the operation of all facility owned or rental equipment to perform such functions as cutting, moving, digging, grading, and rolling earth, sand, stone, snow, and other materials. Equipment utilized includes: 1. A770 all wheel steer skid loader with buckets and blades to remove paving, concrete, construction debris, or cut back soil to prepare for horizontal construction (roadways, sidewalks, parking areas). 2. Volvo front-end loaders with bucket and backhoe implements to move earth and various materials. Additionally, utilize various implements to include hoisting bars for equipment and material, utilizing all terrain forklift attachments to place material on difficult terrain, operation with personal cage for aerial work. Loads dump trucks or 30-yard dumpsters with refuse. Fills dump trucks and equipment with material such as salt, sand, loam, and mulch. 3. Utilization of backhoes and trench diggers to excavate buried utilities requiring repair by in house labor such as water and sewer main lines. Operation of tractor mounted hydraulic hammers to break and remove concrete and asphalt surfaces. 4. Operation of commercial dump truck (highway sized) with hydraulic attachments including highway rated plow and sander. b. Required to safely operate all types of equipment utilized in grounds operations including the ability to obtain and maintain Massachusetts Hoist Operators License. c. Adjusts the attachments for proper level, angle, or depth, according to the work to be done and the type of equipment used. d. Work is generally performed on flat or rolling terrain and paved roads. e. Performs work near buildings, trees or shrubs. f. Performs preventative maintenance prior to, during and after operation. Gardener - 50 Percent: a. Prepares the soil for plants, seeds, thins, transplants, trims, prunes, fertilizes, aerates, mulches, sprays, and dusts grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs and trees using independent judgment and decision making. Prepares new planting areas for propagation of wildflower beds, domestic flowers beds, trees, shrubs and grasses. Prunes shrubs, trees and other plants to remove obvious defects and excess branches to obtain a proper balance between roots and top growth, and to modify or retain the natural form of the tree, shrub, or plant. Installs landscaping materials. b. Operates mowing and trimming equipment routinely used in the maintenance of high-quality stand of turfgrass. This equipment includes aerification and thatch removal devices, woody plant trimming and tree pruning equipment, and automatic turfgrass irrigation systems. c. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: To be determined by management Position Description Title/PD#: Engineering Equipment Operator/PD# 523-02869-A Physical Requirements: This position requires moderate to heavy physical effort with reaching, bending, turning and moving hands, arms, feet and legs to operate different controls on various types of equipment. Work requires frequent bending stooping, kneeling, walking and exposure to constant vibrations and jolting caused by movement of equipment over uneven and rough terrain and running of other power tools. Position may require lifting and moving weight exceeding 50 pounds with or without assistance. Work Environment: Work is performed in all types of weather, ranging from hot and humid to wet, windy and cold. Working conditions also include dust, dirt, mud and water. Wearing of safety shoes always and personal protective equipment as required by the labels of these products is mandatory. Employee 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 of 85dBA or below is mandatory while operating equipment. While wearing hearing protection devices, the employee must still be able to hear at a level to perform duties in a safe manner.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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. 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 SupervisionAbility to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Related to Mobile Equipment Operation)Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles)Operation of Motor VehiclesReliability and DependabilityWork Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) Continuing Education: Must complete Massachusetts Hoist Operators course for operation of hydraulic equipment. 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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Jonathan Montgomery
• Phone: 734-905-2529
• Email: [email protected]