Plumber Supervisor

About the role

The incumbent plans, directs, and oversees installation, modification, repair, testing, and maintenance of plumbing and piping systems including domestic/process water, sanitary systems, oil and gas distribution, medical gas systems, therapy pool systems, irrigation systems, and fire suppression systems.

Ensures compliance with VA policies, NFPA standards, applicable codes, infection prevention requirements, and patient care safety.

What you will do

• Plans, assigns, and schedules work for WG and WL staff across medical gas, domestic/process water, sanitary, therapy pool, irrigation, and fire suppression systems.
• Prioritizes corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance (PM), recurring inspections, and life safety testing in alignment with patient care operations and Joint Commission readiness.
• Develops and monitors PM programs, procedures, and checklists.
• Ensures all work is logged in AEMS/MERS or CMMS and validates work completion and quality.
• Oversees diagnostic, repair, and replacement activities for pumps, PRVs, valves, pipe sections, sprinkler components, medical gas outlets/valves, and associated control/alarm systems.
• Ensures compliance with NFPA 25 (inspection, testing, and maintenance for water-based fire protection systems), VA safety directives, plumbing codes, infection control risk assessment (ICRA) practices, and medical gas standards.
• Coordinates annual certifications (e.g., medical gas) and required NFPA inspections (e.g., fire suppression internal pipe inspections); tracks discrepancies and implements corrective actions.
• Manages therapy pool operations (water chemistry testing, mechanical reliability, safety compliance) and seasonal irrigation programming and maintenance.
• Authors SOPs, lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, and emergency response protocols (e.g., emergency water supply).
• Leads operational risk assessments; prepares and executes planned shutdowns with proper authorizations and communication to patient care supervisors.
• Distributes work orders and gives technical direction; ensures materials, tools, and equipment availability; reviews work-in-progress and final products for adherence to standards and codes.
• Implements performance management (appraisals, awards), discipline, leave administration, and labor management relations per policy.
• Trains and develops personnel; mentors in medical gas maintenance, fire suppression testing, therapy pool operations, irrigation controller programming, leak detection, and safety.
• Enforces safety practices and PPE usage; conducts tailgate safety briefings; investigates incidents and near-misses; implements corrective measures.
• Forecasts materials and spare parts; requests procurement of specialized tools and equipment; supports budget estimates for shop operations.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Position Description Title/PD#: Plumber Supervisor/PD618-608660 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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.
• Supervisory probationary period may be required.
• 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) Performance Appraisal 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.