Laborer

The incumbent performs duties which involve grounds and maintenance work including moving materials assisting other type journeymen due to urgency of work to be accomplished gardeners helper policing grounds moving furniture truck drivers helper loading and unloading trucks and other various duties.

Incumbent follows general instructions to perform work that requires moderately heavy physical effort and may involve a number of successive steps or processes and perform tasks that require prior work experience or training and some degree of manual skill and involves very heavy physical effort. Incumbent is required to use common hand tools and simple power equipment such as hatchets hand saws clippers buffers grinders screwdrivers weed trimmers low- pressure sprayers powered push lawn mowers and powered pavement vacuums. Use shovels to dig ditches where grading and sloping is required; fill holes with dirt and level bumps using shovels hand tampers and rakes; and dig holes for plants and posts. They use simple powered push lawn mowers edgers and trimmers water grounds lay sod and clear small trees and bushes using hand tools. Perform grounds maintenance on grades or slopes; dig ditches and trenches with picks and shovels where dirt is hard and compact. Operate large walking-type power mowers and simple riding-type mowers with limited adjustments. Manually adjust blades for cutting height prepare gasoline/oil mixtures for powered equipment and clean and lubricate mowers.

Perform limited roads maintenance work. They use concrete gravel and/or asphalt to fill and level holes in damaged roads. May be required to break up pavement using jackhammers and clear sidewalks using large industrial-type powered snow blowers. Cut trees using axes or chain saws. May be required to wash buildings using a high-pressure sprayer; separate stack carry and load/unload materials supplies and packages. Also does snow work with shovels.

He/she gains job specific expertise through various sources (e.g. on-the-job training trade publications vendor publications and manuals etc.) to become proficient in the identified primary field.

Attend Engineering Monthly Staff Meetings to obtain and information and participate in discussions on appropriate resolutions to problems.

The incumbent is required to wear safety equipment and clothing when appropriate and required. The incumbent may be required to work at any division of the VA Boston Healthcare System.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. EST
Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer/PDA
Physical Requirements: Work requires very heavy physical effort in operating large riding mowers on grades and in areas with bushes trees and other visible obstacles that require significant maneuvering and lever control. Frequently lift and move equipment and components weighing over 50 pounds. Work is performed mainly outside in varying weather temperatures and in dry humid and/or damp conditions. Work area may be cramped dirty noisy dusty etc. May be exposed to fumes smoke or gases and may work with solvents grease and oils. Work around machinery and moving parts and around moving objects or vehicles. The equipment tools and tasks involved at this level frequently require extreme care and use of safety gloves ear plugs safety glasses or respirators to avoid severe injuries.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave 13 days of sick leave 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth adoption or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment full time employees with a total family income below $144000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Notification:

• This position is in the Competitive Service.
• This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

• 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 drivers 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.

• 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.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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. (Other Than Blueprint Reading)
• Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Dexterity and Safety
• Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat Clean and in Order)