Laborer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) within Facilities Management Service - Roads and Grounds Unit is seeking a Labourer to perform a variety of exterior maintenance on the grounds of the facility.

Your duties include operating large power mowers and hand tools, breaking pavement, digging trenches, lifting heavy loads, and cleaning work areas while working Monday through Friday, 5:00 am to 1:30 pm, under supervision.

Qualifications

• Evidence of training or experience performing exterior maintenance and grounds tasks.
• Ability to follow instructions, use tools and equipment safely, and work with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather and physically demanding conditions.

Responsibilities

• Perform a variety of exterior maintenance on the grounds of the facility.
• Provide occasional assistance to plumbers, carpenters, and other tradesmen.
• Mix concrete or plaster and transport materials to job sites.
• Break up pavement with jackhammers and clear sidewalks with powered blowers.
• Maintain grounds on grades or slopes; dig ditches and trenches.
• Operate large walk-behind power mowers and other equipment; adjust blades and mix fuels.
• Cut trees with axes or chainsaws; wash buildings with a high-pressure sprayer.
• Move and load/unload materials; clean tools and work areas before, during, and after tasks.
• Use weed eaters, hedge trimmers, handsaws; perform routine maintenance of equipment.

Skills

Dexterity and Safety

Manual labor

Heavy lifting

Tools

Jackhammers

Chainsaws

Power mowers

High-pressure sprayer

Job description

Summary
The position is located at Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) within Facilities Management Service - Roads and Grounds Unit. The primary purpose of the position is to perform a variety of exterior maintenance on the grounds of the facility.

Summary
The position is located at Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) within Facilities Management Service - Roads and Grounds Unit. The primary purpose of the position is to perform a variety of exterior maintenance on the grounds of the facility.

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: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions - Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision Work Practices 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 major duties include but are not limited to: Perform a variety of exterior maintenance on the grounds of the facility
• Provide occasional assistance to plumbers - carpenters - and other tradesmen in routine tasks not requiring journeyman level knowledge or skills
• In this regard the laborer may mix concrete or plaster
• Transport materials to and from the job site and perform cleanup activities both during and following work
• Break up pavement using jackhammers
• Clear sidewalks using large - industrial-type - powered blowers
• Perform grounds maintenance on grades or slopes
• Dig ditches and trenches with picks and shovels where dirt is hard and compact
• Operate large - industrial - walking-type power mowers (e.g. - one or more cutting decks - mechanical controls - and attachable implements) - aerators - detachers - and/or simple riding-type mowers for treating and trimming grass (e.g. - a fixed or floating cutting deck(s) with limited adjustments)
• Manually adjust blades for cutting height - prepare gasoline/oil mixtures for powered equipment - and clean and lubricate mowers
• Cut trees - using axes or chain saws
• Wash buildings using a high-pressure sprayer
• separate - stack - carry - and load/unload materials - supplies - and packages
• Lift and move very heavy furniture - equipment - supplies - etc. - through confined spaces
• Clean tools and equipment as well as work areas before - during - and after completion of alterations - repairs - and construction
• Use powered equipment such as a weed eater - hedge trimmer - handsaw - and chainsaw
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 5:00 am - 1:30 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer/PD11225A Physical Requirements: Laborers exert very heavy physical effort daily doing such tasks as frequently lifting and moving objects weighing over 23 kilograms (50 pounds) - walking - standing - bending - kneeling - stooping - operating heavy power mowers on grades or pushing wheelbarrow with loads of rock or cement
• Incumbent must be in adequate physical condition
• Working Conditions: Laborers work inside and outside
• When working outside - they are exposed to all kinds of weather conditions
• Inside work is often accomplished in office buildings or in well lighted - heated - and ventilated areas such as warehouses - loading docks - or trade shops
• They are frequently exposed to weather and temperature extremes reaching over 100 degrees in the summer time - drafts - noise - dust - and dirt
• They are exposed to the possibility of bruises - muscle strains - cuts - and scrapes
• Some exposure to contagious disease is possible in the handling of contaminated waste.