Pipefitter

About the role

Pipefitter at the Robley Rex VA performs a variety of tasks needed to install, troubleshoot, test, repair, modify, and provide general maintenance on a wide variety of plumbing and piping systems used for waste, drain and vent systems, hot and cold potable water distribution systems, HVAC heating and air conditioning piping systems, pneumatics, medical air and gases, hydraulics, natural gas, steam, and condensate systems commonly used at a medical facility and in ·a modern industrial laundry.

What you will do

• Pipefitter at the Robley Rex VA is expected to work both independently on small building maintenance jobs and as part of team of specialists to perform larger installation or repair jobs with limited oral or written technical and administrative guidance or assistance from the Maintenance and Repair(M&R) Supervisor.
• In the performance of this work, duties include, but are not limited to: Layout, install, test, adjust, and maintain several types of piping systems and allied equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers, chemical feed systems, filters, etc. Perform new installations of plumbing and steam equipment from laying-out, ordering materials, roughing-in, and finishing work.
• Perform preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance on a variety of piping systems and allied equipment such as compressors, vacuum pumps, strainers, grease traps, steam traps, meters, regulating valves, etc. Install and maintain pipe insulation of various materials, i.e. rubber, fiberglass, etc. Install, repair, and maintain complex equipment such as dishwashers, steam sterilizers, hot water heaters and converters, and other hospital equipment as designated.
• Install, repair, and maintain HVAC plumbing equipment such as heat exchangers, coils, steam traps, and regulating valves.
• Fit, install, and maintain hospital plumbing and laboratory equipment including fixtures such as drinking fountains, lavatories, urinals, sinks, etc. in accordance with prescribes methods and AD.A. requirements.
• Provide support for automatic fixtures including routine flushing and battery replacement.
• Install, test, and repair life support and life safety systems such as medical gas, medical air, dental air, medical vacuum, natural gas, and fire suppression systems using a variety of piping materials such as copper, brass, cast iron, steel, PVC, and various fastening methods including threading, soldering, brazing, welding, crimping, PVC cement, and Victaulic.
• Maintain shop inventory of bench stock including ordering materials for jobs and bench stock replacement.
• Install firestop when necessary in accordance with prescribed UL methods.
• He or she develops an understanding of how their work supports VA's mission, carries out instructions, as defined by the supervisor, in order to achieve organizational goals, and participates in the performance management process.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD40173A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive:: May be Authorized.
• Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be paid to a Highly Qualified candidate.
• Physical Requirements: Daily handles objects weighing up to 45 pounds and occasionally carries heavier objects for considerable distances on the medical center campus.
• Required to push, pull, reach, walk, stand, crawl, kneel, bend and work in cramped positions over and under piping and operating equipment of all types for sustained periods of time to accomplish assigned tasks.

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) 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.