What are the responsibilities and job description for the Maintenance Mechanic position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
This Maintenance Mechanic position is located in Engineering Service with VA Boston Healthcare System at the Jamaica Plain, MA campus. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.
Duties
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 17, 2024. After this date, qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. Eligible applications received after the initial cut-off date will be referred as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.
Duties:
Work Schedule: To be determined by management
Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD523-02126-A
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Notifications:
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2025.
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:
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.
Skills And Knowledge Required By The Position
Physical Requirements: The incumbent works to make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, and other hard-to-reach places. This requires workers to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Workers frequently lift and carry tools, equipment, and parts that weigh up to 20 pound and, less often, up to 40 pounds. Occasionally, they lift or move with assistance moderately heavy objects weighing more than 40 pounds.
Working Conditions: The work is performed both inside and outside. Workers are sometimes required to make repairs and installations in bad weather; in work areas that are noisy, dirty, dusty, and greasy; on scaffolding or cranes at heights of 30 feet or more; and in close quarters such as manholes, attics, or aboard ships. They are occasionally exposed to the possibility of injury from falling, electrical shock, burns, and rotary devices such as electrical motors. They are frequently exposed to the possibility of cuts and bruises. Incumbent may be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment while performing duties. Must participate in medical surveillance program for respirator usage.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.
The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
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.
Read more
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.
This Maintenance Mechanic position is located in Engineering Service with VA Boston Healthcare System at the Jamaica Plain, MA campus. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.
- This announcement may close at any time once all positions are filled.***
Duties
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 17, 2024. After this date, qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. Eligible applications received after the initial cut-off date will be referred as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.
Duties:
- Reports to and is accountable to the maintenance supervisor for the quality and quantity of work performed by the work unit.
- Works assigned shifts outside of routine operating hours and is responsible for performing routine work orders and responding to emergent trouble calls from the facility with direction from the on shift heating ventilation and air conditioning mechanic.
- Acts within general instructions and standard procedures set forth by the engineering manager.
- Performs a variety of preventive maintenance tasks such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, roofing and other related trades required in maintenance and repair of buildings, structures, fixtures, and related property.
- Makes visual and operational inspections of a variety of wood, brick, metal and masonry buildings to detect deficiencies and determine repair needs.
- Determines materials needed, and makes repairs or replaces items found defective. Inspections include checking the condition of foundations, walls, flooring, roofs, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical systems, building approaches and obvious safety and fire hazards.
- Performs carpentry work involving maintenance and repair of a variety of wood products.
- Selects lumber, materials, supplies and tools.
- Measures and cuts materials to required lengths and dimensions.
- Repairs or replaces flooring, sheet rock, plywood, siding, sheathing, roofing doors, jambs and window frames, interior and exterior trim.
- Fabricates and installs frames or casings for windows and doors.
- Installs doors and door hardware, repairs roofs by shingling or installing roll roofing.
- Repairs floors by replacing flooring.
- Replaces floor tile and vinyl sheet flooring.
- Uses a variety of hand and power tools to accomplish the above.
- Accomplishes repairs to include sanding and finishing.
- Performs plumbing work involving maintenance and repair of a wide variety of piping, plumbing fixtures (lavatories, commodes, sink, disposals, bath tubs and shower fixtures).
- Selects materials, supplies and tools.
- Measures, cuts and threads piping to required lengths using correct size of pipe and threading the correct number of threads.
- Installs piping by using threaded couplings, joints, fittings and by soldering.
- Repairs or replaces flush valves, vacuum breakers, faucets, and traps.
- Clears clogged sink, lavatory, tub and shower drains, unstops sanitary sewer drains and lines.
- Uses a variety of hand and power tools to accomplish such task as cutting and threading pipe, unstopping drains, installing fixtures and piping and repairing or replacing all of the above.
- Makes electrical repairs by removing and replacing defective parts such as incandescent and fluorescent fixtures, receptacles, switches, pull chains, covers, ballasts, starters, sockets, door ball buttons, transformers, and other items related to the installed system.
- Changes bulbs in hard to reach locations.
- Performs snow/ice control.
- Operates equipment with specially designed attachments (e.g., snow plow, mounted sand spreaders, rotary snow blowers) used separately or simultaneously.
- Operates conventional snow removal or clearing equipment as needed.
- Performs shop mathematics in order to compute measurements, angles, arcs, etc.
- Cuts various materials to required size or shape, match colors, patterns and materials, and install various materials to obtain proper fit, strength and appearance.
- Reads and interprets drawings and sketches.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: To be determined by management
Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD523-02126-A
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Notifications:
- This position is in the Competitive Service.
- Current Federal employees may 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 AFGE Bargaining Unit.
- This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
- Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
- Selectee may be required to work at any VA Boston Healthcare System campus or CBOC, as needed.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
- 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.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2025.
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.
- Knowledge of Materials
- Measuring Instruments
- Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
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.
Skills And Knowledge Required By The Position
- Must have knowledge of and skill in applying accepted methods and techniques of journeyman carpentry and plumbing and have sufficient knowledge of standard methods and techniques of various trades such as heating, electrical, sheet metal, masonry and other related trades to detect deficiencies.
- Must have knowledge of shop mathematics in order to compute measurements, angles, arcs, etc.
- Must have ability to cut various materials to required size or shape, match colors, patterns and materials, and install various materials to obtain proper fit, strength and appearance.
- Must have ability to read and interpret drawings and sketches.
- Must know how to use, setup and adjust a variety of hand and power tools, related to various trades and test equipment such as test lamps and voltmeters.
- Must be skilled in the use of a lathe to turn down shafts and to machine parts for circulating pumps, etc.
- Must be skilled in the use of drill press, metal cutting band saw, power press and portable electrical hand tools.
- Must exercise normal care and practice all safety regulations during the performance of his duties to prevent injury to self or co-workers.
Physical Requirements: The incumbent works to make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, and other hard-to-reach places. This requires workers to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Workers frequently lift and carry tools, equipment, and parts that weigh up to 20 pound and, less often, up to 40 pounds. Occasionally, they lift or move with assistance moderately heavy objects weighing more than 40 pounds.
Working Conditions: The work is performed both inside and outside. Workers are sometimes required to make repairs and installations in bad weather; in work areas that are noisy, dirty, dusty, and greasy; on scaffolding or cranes at heights of 30 feet or more; and in close quarters such as manholes, attics, or aboard ships. They are occasionally exposed to the possibility of injury from falling, electrical shock, burns, and rotary devices such as electrical motors. They are frequently exposed to the possibility of cuts and bruises. Incumbent may be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment while performing duties. Must participate in medical surveillance program for respirator usage.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.
The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
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.
Read more
- 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.
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.
Salary : $34 - $40
