Summary The Engineering Equipment Operator serves in the Grounds and Transportation Section of the Environmental Management Service Line (EMS). The employee is responsible for operating equipment to maintain the exterior grounds for the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) and drives patients and employees in full size motor coaches, passenger ambulances and the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU). This position is located in Tacoma, Washington. Responsibilities Duties include but may not be limited to: Operate equipment such as tractors with bulldozer or angle dozer blades, skid-steer loaders, backhoes, trench diggers, and other construction equipment. Utilize equipment to cut, move, dig and grade rolling earth, stone and other materials to maintain ditches, roads and fire lines. Transport patients, staff and visitors to and from the medical center over public highways and with the grounds of the medical center. Operate a hydraulic wheelchair lift when driving the vehicles that are equipped to transport patients using wheelchairs. Maintain records or service and completes paperwork in connection with all station vehicles. Ensure collection points for garbage and debris are cleaned regularly. Dig out stumps, backfill ditches, cover debris, move structures and pull trees or stumps. Operate retractable boom lifts, scissor lifts to reach roof tops, gutters and prune treetops, and forklifts and street-sweepers. Operate equipment necessary to pick up and deliver station laundry, trash, waste and debris. Deliver mail, personnel records, specimens and other items between the two campuses of the VAPSHCS. Perform operator maintenance on all vehicles operated (e.g., monitors fluid levels, replaces air filters and interior lights, checks tire pressure and hose connections and washes vehicles). Operate vehicles on interstate highways, winding roads, and steep grades, selecting the safest most direct, and legally allowed route and alternative routs in the even of an emergency situation. Mow lawns using riding mowers and push mowers. Pick up leaves and debris using rakes, picks, shovels or motorized equipment. Use power tools such as weed eaters, edger's, blowers, etc. to maintain grounds and fertilize with hand spreaders ensuring lawns are watered as needed. Maintain records of gas/diesel usage of equipment utilized on hospital grounds. Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 10:30am - 7:00pm. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Pre-employment physical required Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications REQUIRED DRIVER'S LICENSE: Class A or B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Passenger endorsement. (Do not upload a copy of license. Licenses will be verified during the interview process.) SCREEN-OUT: This position requires the employee to do the work of an Engineering Equipment Operator without more than normal supervision. The work includes operating various types of heavy equipment used to push, pull, pile or load materials such as sand, gravel, or refuse; ensuring equipment is in good working order and conducting general equipment maintenance; driving vehicles to transport patients/passengers; and operating various hand and power tools to maintain grounds and lawns; (Resume(s) must clearly demonstrate experience to receive credit. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.) PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Employee is required to be in possession of the appropriate CDL (Class A or B) Driver's license with Passenger (P1) endorsement to operate the following equipment: motor coaches, passenger ambulances, Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), vans, dump trucks, and trucks in-excess-of 32,000 pounds. The employee must possess the physical qualification required to secure a vehicle operator permit. The employees is required to have good muscular coordination of foot, legs, eyes, hands and arms in the safe operation of the vehicle. The employee must possess the physical strength required to operate a large truck, change tires, install chains, load cargo and have the strength and endurance to perform heavy physical labor. The physical requirements of this position are equal to those of an outdoor construction mechanic. Besides the adverse demands of rainy and cold weather, employee is required to climb considerable heights to clean roofs and gutters, operate chain type mechanical timber saws, pike poles, wrecking bars, block and tackles, assorted rigging devices, heavy pneumatic drills and concrete breaks, lift and handle heavy objects and other app required for the daily execution of the duties outlined above. In addition to the exterior work, the employee must be able to lift and carry heavy objects of furniture, crates, bulky materials, heavy fixtures and other similar items of fixed equipment and the like. WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed in all types of weather conditions. Duties are performed outdoors in all kinds of weather. Bad-weather or hazardous conditions of roads prohibits the use of bus to transport patients. Employee is subject to dust, grease, soiling of work clothes and skin surfaces. At frequent intervals, the employee must work at considerable height, within earthwork excavations, in semi-hazardous timber removal, and in secure operations of caterpillar equipment over rough terrain. Employee is subject to being hit by flying objects and debris. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn at all times when performing these duties. Employee will be responsible for the safe operations of all laws and regulations thereby avoiding any injury to patients, public or self-avoiding damage to vehicles. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Drive Safely Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations) Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle) Operation of Motor Vehicles Without more than normal supervision Work Practices IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Education Additional Information 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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. 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.