Maintenance Mechanic

About the role

This position is located in the Maintenance and Repair section, Engineering and Facilities Management Service Line. This position functions under the supervision of the Maintenance and Repair (M&R) Supervisor.

Duties inherent to the position will occur primarily at the Fort Harrison campus though rendering of service my infrequently be required at any one of 23 locations across VA Montana Healthcare System.

What you will do

• Repairs and maintains food carts, laundry carts, metal furniture, pumps and air compressors throughout the medical center.
• Troubleshoots equipment malfunctions and failures and determines the extent of repairs and parts needed, estimated materials required, selects best work methods, techniques and trade practices and accomplishes the repair or overhaul.
• Independently diagnoses, plans and completes projects or work orders involving routine repairs.
• Uses his/her own initiative on maintenance and repair work to identify malfunctions or non-functions, then proceed with corrective action.
• Responsible for selecting and safely using proper tools, devices, manuals, references and efficient procedures.
• Performs walk through inspections of buildings and initiates electronic work orders for deficiencies found.
• Measures, cuts and constructs using standard building materials.
• Measures, cuts, constructs, installs, repairs and modifies routine mill work, framing, benches, partitions, tables, furniture, etc. Performs work to close tolerances, exact fit, and structural soundness.
• Plan, measure, and lay out carpentry materials using typical shop mathematics for complex and exact projects.
• Must be able to interpret blueprints, sketches, manufacturers' specifications, and technical manuals, and be knowledgeable in shop math and standard formulas.
• Plan, measure, and lay out carpentry materials by interpreting complex or incomplete instructions, sketches, blueprints, and building codes.
• Works from building plans, blueprints, and sketches, to plan and lay out the routing, placement, slant, slope, fall, and proper operation, of systems and equipment.
• Uses tools and equipment such as plumb bobs, mercury gauges, dividers, closet augers, hydrostatic pumps, and lead pots.
• Responsible for selecting and safely using proper tools, devices, manuals, references and efficient procedures.
• Skilled in the use of all common electrical hand and power tools and testing equipment as required.
• Operate and use a wide variety of specialty woodworking machines and tools.
• Operate and use a variety of tools by setting-up, adjusting, and maintaining tools to meet required specifications.
• Plans measure and lay out carpentry materials using broad knowledge of wood materials and substitutes, with general and precision woodworking techniques.
• Define repairs/upgrades and define required materials (bill of materials), tools and equipment requirements.
• Repairs plumbing systems.
• Installing, modifying, and repairing new and existing utility, supply, and disposal systems.
• Repairs equipment such as sewage, water, oil, and gas distribution systems and water closets, tubs, fire sprinkler systems, and showers.
• Work Schedule: Thursday - Monday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD11581A Physical Requirements: The incumbent works from ladders, scaffolding and hydraulic platforms.
• He/she often works in the portions of the utility systems requiring attention that are cramped, dirty and hard to reach locations.
• The work involves prolonged crouching and standing, and frequent stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and working in exhausting and uncomfortable positions.
• The incumbent frequently lifts and carries tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding, parts and supplies up to 50 pounds.
• Occasionally, the incumbent will be required to lift and carry items over 50 pounds.
• Working Conditions: Maintenance mechanics usually work indoors.
• However, they may be occasionally exposed to a variety of weather conditions both in winter and summer while making repairs and installations on exterior worksites.
• During emergency repairs, extremes of bad weather are sometimes present.
• Many worksites are hot, dirty, dusty, greasy, poorly lit, cramped, and unpleasant odors.
• Where hazard dictates, the incumbent will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as necessary to accomplish assigned tasks in a safe manner.

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.

Education

There is no educational substitution for this grade level.

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

• Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible) Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume.
• Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
• Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications.
• To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title.
• If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy.
• We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
• Documents Accepted: Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) Other (1) Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action 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.