SUMMARY

This Maintenance Mechanic position is located in Engineering Service with VA Boston Healthcare System at the West Roxbury, MA campus. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 09/30/2025.

Skills and Knowledge Required by the Position

• Must have knowledge of and skill in applying accepted methods and techniques of journeyman carpentry and plumbing and have sufficient knowledge of standard methods and techniques of various trades such as heating, electrical, sheet metal, masonry and other related trades to detect deficiencies.
• Must have knowledge of shop mathematics in order to compute measurements, angles, arcs, etc.
• Must have ability to cut various materials to required size or shape, match colors, patterns and materials, and install various materials to obtain proper fit, strength and appearance.
• Must have ability to read and interpret drawings and sketches.
• Must know how to use, setup and adjust a variety of hand and power tools, related to various trades and test equipment such as test lamps and voltmeters.
• Must be skilled in the use of a lathe to turn down shafts and to machine parts for circulating pumps, etc.
• Must be skilled in the use of drill press, metal cutting band saw, power press and portable electrical hand tools.
• Must exercise normal care and practice all safety regulations during the performance of his duties to prevent injury to self or co-workers.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent works to make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, and other hard-to-reach places. This requires workers to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Workers frequently lift and carry tools, equipment, and parts that weigh up to 20 pound and, less often, up to 40 pounds. Occasionally, they lift or move with assistance moderately heavy objects weighing more than 40 pounds.
Working Conditions: The work is performed both inside and outside. Workers are sometimes required to make repairs and installations in bad weather; in work areas that are noisy, dirty, dusty, and greasy; on scaffolding or cranes at heights of 30 feet or more; and in close quarters such as manholes, attics, or aboard ships. They are occasionally exposed to the possibility of injury from falling, electrical shock, burns, and rotary devices such as electrical motors. They are frequently exposed to the possibility of cuts and bruises. Incumbent may be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment while performing duties. Must participate in medical surveillance program for respirator usage.
EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading)
• Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc.
• Knowledge of Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

EDUCATION

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

DUTIES

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be August 20, 2025. After this date, qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. Eligible applications received after the initial cut-off date will be referred as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Duties:

• Reports to and is accountable to the maintenance supervisor for the quality and quantity of work performed by the work unit.
• Works assigned shifts outside of routine operating hours and is responsible for performing routine work orders and responding to emergent trouble calls from the facility with direction from the on shift heating ventilation and air conditioning mechanic.
• Acts within general instructions and standard procedures set forth by the engineering manager.
• Performs a variety of preventive maintenance tasks such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, roofing and other related trades required in maintenance and repair of buildings, structures, fixtures, and related property.
• Makes visual and operational inspections of a variety of wood, brick, metal and masonry buildings to detect deficiencies and determine repair needs.
• Determines materials needed, and makes repairs or replaces items found defective. Inspections include checking the condition of foundations, walls, flooring, roofs, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical systems, building approaches and obvious safety and fire hazards.
• Performs carpentry work involving maintenance and repair of a variety of wood products.
• Selects lumber, materials, supplies and tools.
• Measures and cuts materials to required lengths and dimensions.
• Repairs or replaces flooring, sheet rock, plywood, siding, sheathing, roofing doors, jambs and window frames, interior and exterior trim.
• Fabricates and installs frames or casings for windows and doors.
• Installs doors and door hardware, repairs roofs by shingling or installing roll roofing.
• Repairs floors by replacing flooring.
• Replaces floor tile and vinyl sheet flooring.
• Uses a variety of hand and power tools to accomplish the above.
• Accomplishes repairs to include sanding and finishing.
• Performs plumbing work involving maintenance and repair of a wide variety of piping, plumbing fixtures (lavatories, commodes, sink, disposals, bath tubs and shower fixtures).
• Selects materials, supplies and tools.
• Measures, cuts and threads piping to required lengths using correct size of pipe and threading the correct number of threads.
• Installs piping by using threaded couplings, joints, fittings and by soldering.
• Repairs or replaces flush valves, vacuum breakers, faucets, and traps.
• Clears clogged sink, lavatory, tub and shower drains, unstops sanitary sewer drains and lines.
• Uses a variety of hand and power tools to accomplish such task as cutting and threading pipe, unstopping drains, installing fixtures and piping and repairing or replacing all of the above.
• Makes electrical repairs by removing and replacing defective parts such as incandescent and fluorescent fixtures, receptacles, switches, pull chains, covers, ballasts, starters, sockets, door ball buttons, transformers, and other items related to the installed system.
• Changes bulbs in hard to reach locations.
• Performs snow/ice control.
• Operates equipment with specially designed attachments (e.g., snow plow, mounted sand spreaders, rotary snow blowers) used separately or simultaneously.
• Operates conventional snow removal or clearing equipment as needed.
• Performs shop mathematics in order to compute measurements, angles, arcs, etc.
• Cuts various materials to required size or shape, match colors, patterns and materials, and install various materials to obtain proper fit, strength and appearance.
• Reads and interprets drawings and sketches.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic / PD523-02126-A
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Notifications:

• This position is in the Competitive Service.
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is NAGE Bargaining Unit.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• Selectee may be required to work at any VA Boston Healthcare System campus or CBOC, as needed.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading)
• Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc.
• Knowledge of Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic