Pipefitter

About the role

This position is located in the Facility Support Service, in the Maintenance and Repair Section of the El Paso VA.

The primary purpose of this position is to perform in the capacity of a Pipefitter which includes responsibility for installation, modification, testing, maintaining, repairing, inspecting, analyzing for defects, troubleshooting and elimination of malfunctions in all piping systems in the facility. The incumbent is responsible for routine and emergency maintenance and repair.

What you will do

• The incumbent is a highly qualified journeyman pipe fitter responsible for the installation. modification. testing, maintaining, repairing, inspecting, analyzing defects, troubleshooting and elimination of malfunctions in all the piping systems in the facility.
• These systems include the high- and low-pressure steam and condensate return systems, natural gas, medical gas systems, domestic and chilled water systems. waste and drainage systems and water-based fire suppression systems and all auxiliary equipment.
• Typical work assignments the performance of visual examination, operational test and verbal requests from the Maintenance and Operations Supervisor.
• Incumbent maintains, modifies and repairs medical gas piping, outlets, fittings, manifolds and systems.
• Incumbent is certified as a medical gas pipping, outlets, fittings, manifolds, and systems.
• Incumbent is certified as a medical gas installer and maintains yearly recertification.
• Incumbent installs, maintains repairs and troubleshoots all plumbing fixtures, commercial and residential, to include toilets, urinals, sinks, lavatories, bathtub and showers, physiotherapy equipment, safety showers and eyewashes, bedpan sanitizers and digesters.
• Incumbent also installs, maintains, repairs and troubleshoots all plumbing faucets and control valves.
• Incumbent maintains, repairs, replaces and installs sanitary and storm waste lines, vent tines and drainage lines.
• Incumbent assists other crats and trades diagnosing and repairing piping problems in the hospitals systems, such as with the air conditioning shop on heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) and equipment to maintain proper climate control, and with the Utility Systems Repat/Operators and Maintenance Mechanics to make repairs to dietetic equipment.
• Incumbent repairs, replaces and installs piping, fittings, components and auxiliary equipment on these systems.
• Incumbent leaves job site and shop in clean, safe condition when finished.
• Material and debris are cleaned on an on-going basis during the job.
• Upon completion of the job the area is cleaned, swept and mopped as needed, and left ready for the housekeeping staff to do the final cleaning.
• Tools, equipment, chemicals and materials are secured in the work cart so that it poses no risk to patients, staff, employees and general public.
• Incumbent open and closes work orders to account for time, materials, materials costs and accomplished work.
• Materials used are recorded on the work order or PMI and then closed out.
• Incumbent insures adequate stock of materials through cooperation with the Generic Inventory Program (GIP) clerk.
• These administrative duties are accomplished daily.
• Incumbent maintains documentation of all inspections, repairs, work performed, vendor repairs, etc., as part of equipment histories, as required by the Preventative Maintenance Program.
• Incumbent determines if system is unreliable or unsafe to use and arranges to have defective equipment or system removed from service until repaired and provides temporary alternatives as needed.
• Incumbent works with other shops and sections when problem exceeds that shop's knowledge, capability or area of responsibility.
• Incumbent follows all applicable safety precautions required.
• Incumbent applies Lockout/Tag out (LOTO) procedures for all work requiring such precautions and logs action Into LOTO log maintained in Maintenance and Operation office.
• Incumbent accomplishes all work in workmanship like manner and to accepted trade standards.
• Incumbent keeps users affect by repairs updated on work and schedules all non- emergent repairs with the user to minimize outages impacts and provides temporary resources as needed and possible.
• Incumbent will be a licensed Backflow Repair Assembly Tester and will test all backflow prevention devices on stations on an annual basis.
• All backflow prevention devices that do not pass will be immediately taken out of service and repaired and retested.
• License is issued by TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) and not needed upon hire but must be obtained within 1 year of hire date.
• This is an essential position.
• The incumbent is required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather.
• The tour of duty may include holidays, weekends, and rotating shifts.
• Work Schedule: Monday Through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm, (Work schedule subject to change based on agency) - The tour of duty may include holidays, weekends, and rotating shifts.
• Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD01099A Physical Requirements: This position requires walking, standing, bending, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling moderately heavy (up to 50 pounds), and occasionally heavier weights with assistance.Work is performed from ladders, platforms, under equipment, in crawl spaces, in areas that are hot and hard to reach and outdoors.
• Employee is required to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, crawl and work uncomfortable positions.

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 (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification 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.