Summary This position is located within the Facilities Management Service (Facilities Building/Grounds Unit.) at the Kansas City VA Medical Center, performing work as a Laborer requiring significant manual skills and heavy physical effort in the use of large complex riding equipment, hydraulic and mechanical devices. Responsibilities The incumbent performs duties as a laborer in direct support of the supervisor/facility planner and/or other trades and crafts employees engaged in maintenance-related activities. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Performs a variety of labor tasks such as grounds maintenance, trash collection, policing grounds, washing, cleaning, and similar tasks which typically require only the use of hand tools and which are less physically demanding Performs grading and sloping and occasionally breaks up pavement and concrete Manual labor tasks in support of facility grounds maintenance activities (e.g., seeding, liming, fertilizing, installing, and removing signs, etc. Performs grounds maintenance on grades or slopes; dig ditches and trenches with picks and shovels where dirt is hard and compact Clears sidewalks using large, industrial-type, powered snow blowers and shovels Loads, unloads, relocates, moves, and carries furniture, heavy boxes, bulky supplies, equipment, office supplies tools and material to, from, and between storage, trucks, and working sites to accommodate moves needed internal to the facility using various types of moving equipment including dollies and carts designed for furniture and appliance relocation Assists in maintaining and fabricating structures, facilities, and equipment to support operations; maintaining storage areas, roads, facilities, and signage Completes internal facility projects, special construction projects, and upgrades Performs basic painting and carpentry duties Restocks and cleans storage buildings Operates, controls, and maintains push mowers, simple riding-type mowers, large industrial zero-turn mowers, walking-type power mowers, large, complex riding mowers, and specialized mowing equipment Operates hand and powered tools in difficult working conditions (e.g., heavy brush areas, steep slopes, and grades) Performs routine preventive maintenance on tools and equipment Cuts trees and brush using axes, weed eaters, and chain saws Operates pickups and similar light vehicles and box truck (less than 26,000 lbs.) in transporting work materials between work areas on the campus and clinics Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: M-F 630am-430pm Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer/PD04051A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Physical Requirements: Position requires exerting heavy physical effort in frequently lifting, carrying, and moving facility maintenance equipment, supplies, furniture, and other items weighing over 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Work involves continuous walking, bending, moving, and reaching. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) 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. WORKING CONDITIONS: Works outside in all kinds of weather and temperature extremes, and inside in areas that may be dusty, drafty, dirty, and noisy. Employee is frequently exposed to the possibility of cuts, bruises, muscle strains, sprains, and to occasional chance of serious injury (e.g., broken bones, back-injury, etc.). Special care must be exercised to avoid serious injury while using powered tools and equipment. Employee must follow established safety procedures and use appropriate protective clothing and/or equipment to minimize hazards in the work area. Some work sites are remote and have no facilities. The equipment, tools, and tasks involved at this level frequently require extreme care and use of safety gloves, ear plugs, safety glasses, or respirators, to avoid severe injuries. Education 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 https://www.opm.gov/. 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.