Laborer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Federal holiday pay

Retirement benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Boston, MA is seeking a full-time Laborer to support the Facilities Management Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury campus.

The role involves extensive grounds maintenance, operating mowers, and various manual duties required to keep outdoor areas safe and well-kept. The Laborer will perform duties that emphasize physical effort and safety, including tool use, material handling, and compliance with work instructions; schedule is

Qualifications

• Experience or training evidence showing ability to perform duties; credit given for relevant work or volunteer experience.
• Screen-out element: ability to work without more than normal supervision.
• Willingness to perform heavy physical labor outdoors and in varying weather conditions.
• Provide detailed descriptions of duties on your resume to receive credit.

Responsibilities

• Perform grounds and maintenance work, move materials, assist other journeymen as needed.
• Follow instructions for tasks requiring moderate to heavy physical effort and proper use of tools.
• Use common hand tools and power equipment (hatchets, saws, clippers, buffers, grinders, screwdrivers, weed trimmers, lawn mowers, pavement vacuums).
• Dig ditches and level areas with shovels and rakes.
• Lay sod, water grounds, trim shrubs, and perform basic landscape duties.
• Operate large and small mowers and maintain safety gear and protective equipment.
• Work outdoors and in various weather; maintain orderly and clean work areas.

Skills

Physical fitness

Safety practices

Manual dexterity

Tools

Hatchets

Hand saws

Clippers

Buffers

Grinders

Screwdrivers

Weed trimmers

Lawn mowers

Pavement vacuums

Shovels

Job description

Summary

The Laborer position is located in the Facilities Management Service of the VA Boston Healthcare System. This position is located in the West Roxbury - MA campus. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

Summary

The Laborer position is located in the Facilities Management Service of the VA Boston Healthcare System. This position is located in 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. 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) 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.

Duties

• 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 - gardener's helper - policing grounds - moving furniture - truck driver's 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
• Performs 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
• 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
• Attends 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 may be required to work at any division of the VA Boston Healthcare System
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m - 3:30 p.m EST Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer/PD523-00655-A 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 $144 -000 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 is an open continuous announcement until 09/30/2026
• Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available
• This position is in the Competitive Service
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.