Laborer (Groundskeeper)

About the role

This position is located within the Environmental Management Service of the West Texas VA Health Care System in Big Spring, Texas. This position is under the direct supervision of the Gardener Foreman or designee.

Incumbent will routinely perform grounds maintenance and move office furniture, equipment, and supplies as well as operate motor vehicles, utility vehicles, forklifts, lawn mowers, and on occasion, will operate an excavator/backhoe and a tractor with brush cutter.

What you will do

• Operates an excavator/backhoe with bucket weighing more than 16,000 pounds; a tractor with brush cutter weighing more than 3,700 pounds; and a forklift weighing more than 3,200 pounds.
• Responsible for the placing of the avenue of flags on flag days.
• Moves furniture to and from the Medical Center and at each of the Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
• Maintains the grounds free of litter and trash.
• Prunes trees and shrubs Removes snow/ice from parking lots, sidewalks, steps, and entrances and applies ice melt or sand where needed.
• Cleans the smoking shelter, outer entrances to the Medical Center, and the grounds shop and office.
• Applies proper fungicide to shrubs, plants, and trees for insects and disease.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: 7:00am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer (Groundskeeper)/PD00670A Physical Requirements: Work requires very heavy physical effort such as frequent lifting and carrying objects weighing 50 pounds.
• Occasionally, the incumbent will be required to lift and carry items over 50 pounds and push/pull loads weighing up to 500 pounds.
• Incumbent stands, walks, crouches, and kneels most of the working day.
• Operates heavy equipment on grades.
• Occasionally, incumbent climbs ladders, and balances to prune branches.
• Incumbent pushes and pulls such equipment such as lawn mowers and cultivators.
• Color vision is involved in determining colors of plants.
• Working Conditions: Work is both indoors and outdoors.
• While working indoors there is adequate temperature, light and ventilation.
• There may be exposure to drafts, noise, and dust.
• While working outdoors the incumbent may be exposed to all kinds of weather conditions and temperature extremes, including rain, snow, heat, cold, dirt, mud, chemical sprays, and dust.
• Work is often dirty and dusty.
• Frequently exposed to the possibilities of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes as is subject to falls from ladders and trees.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation 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 Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents you must provide

• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Other (2) Other (3) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Proof of Enrollment Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
• Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
• You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
• Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply.
• Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
• Applications are accepted online.
• Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

What to expect next

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

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 ***

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.