Pipefitter

About the role

This position is located at the Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VISN 5, VA Medical Center (VAMC) Beckley, West Virginia. It is organizationally aligned under the Facilities Management Service Line.

The primary purpose of this position is to install, modify maintain, and repair industrial or domestic high-temperature water and medium to high pressure piping systems and equipment. A recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

What you will do

• Installing, modifying and repairing new and existing medium to high pressure piping systems and equipment such as steam heating, steam generation, hydraulic systems, steam generators, flash and expansion tanks, condensate lines, vacuum and circulating pumps, and radiators.
• Installs equipment by planning and completing the routing and placement of systems leading to the equipment, determining and placing equipment, determining and placing equipment at the proper levels and points int he system, and joining, sealing and testing systems and equipment for proper pressure, leak free joints, and operation.
• Installs, maintains and repairs internal water lines, internal and external soil pipes, external water mains and all related devices and equipment.
• Welds joints and fittings using metal inert gas (MIG), tungsten inert gas (TIG) or electric arc welders.
• Responsible for the total operation, repair, maintenance, and documentation of the reverse osmosis (R.O) system in the MC.
• Responsible for the full implementation and continuous updating of the Engineering Service Automated Engineering Management System/Medical equipment Reporting System (AEMS/MERS) that apply to the Plumbing Shop.
• Installs, maintains and repairs internal and external medical gas lines and well as the medical gas system in its entirety.
• Responsible for all required documentation relating to the medical gas system.
• Journeyman level skills and knowledge are required of this position, and must be able to complete modifications and repairs of various complex systems.
• Ability to attend training and certification in asbestos removal, training and certification in testing and certifying all backflow devices, welding and piping to complete quality of work regarding installing, maintaining, and repairing piping systems and other associated equipment.
• Knowledge of and skill using various equipment such as hydraulic systems, various pumps and radiators, steam heating equipment, steam generators, sterilizers, valves, and drain cleaning equipment.
• Knowledge of various supply, disposal, and utility systems and equipment sufficient to service water, natural and propane gas systems, fire control sprinkler systems, and water closets, are installed and operational.
• Knowledge of, and ability to use shop mathematics to determine the size and type of materials necessary to complete projects.
• Must be willing to obtain Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Certification and act as COR for trade related contractual services.
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.
• Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD26351A Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Physical Requirements: The work requires the pipefitter to make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms, often in hard-to-reach areas.
• The incumbent is required to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions for extended periods.
• The work frequently involves handling, lifting, carrying, and setting up parts and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms).
• Occasionally, the incumbent may lift or move heavier items with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers.
• Dexterity and coordination are needed to install and repair systems where precise alignment and fit are essential, and where work must be performed in confined spaces or awkward positions.
• Working Conditions: The work is performed both indoors and is frequently dirty, dusty, and greasy.
• The incumbent is sometimes required to make repairs and installations in areas with unpleasant odors, confined or poorly ventilated spaces, or where exposure to fumes, steam, or hot surfaces occurs.
• The incumbent is regularly exposed to the possibility of physical injury such as strains, cuts, abrasions, burns bruises, and infections.
• Work areas may involve uncomfortable extremes of heat, humidity, or cold depending on the system or location being serviced.
• Occasionally exposure to the possibility of broken bones or other serious injuries may occur when working with pressurized systems, welding equipment, or heavy components.

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 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 (VA) References Other (2) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification 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.