Maintenance Mechanic

Veterans Health Administration (DOVA); Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 44,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration (DOVA) is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic at the WJB Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, SC. The role involves maintaining buildings, grounds and utilities, with responsibilities across electrical, piping, boiler, and HVAC tasks.

Work is full-time, on-site, with a 7:00am–3:30pm schedule Monday through Friday. Direct-Hire Authority applies; background check required. Prior boiler and mechanical experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience reading blueprints, drawings, or specifications.
• Ability to work with a variety of trades (electrical, HVAC, piping, boiler systems).
• Must be able to follow supervisor directions and work independently when required.

Responsibilities

• Maintain heating boilers and domestic heating units and systems.
• Read blueprints, drawings and specs to determine work requirements.
• Perform electrical, welding, pipefitting and mechanical tasks as assigned.
• Complete assignments from layout to final assembly under supervision.

Skills

Electrical

HVAC

Welding

Pipefitting

Boiler operation

Blueprints

Job description

Summary

This position serves as a Maintenance Mechanic within Engineering Service at WJB Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, South Carolina under the supervision of the Supervisory Maintenance Mechanic, with second level direction provided by the Maintenance Control Manager. The maintenance mechanic performs a variety of tasks involved in the upkeep of buildings, grounds and related structures, fixtures, and utilities.

Key Details

• Telework eligible: No
• Remote job: No
• Relocation expenses reimbursed: No
• Salary: $31.59 – $36.86 per hour
• Pay scale & grade: WG 10
• Promotion potential: None
• Work schedule: Full-time
• Travel Required: Not required
• Appointment type: Permanent
• Occupations and job series: 4749 Maintenance Mechanic
• Supervisory status: No
• Federal service type: This job is in the Competitive Service
• Represented by a union: No
• Drug test: No
• Security clearance: Not Required
• Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk. Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job. Background check type: Suitability/Fitness
• Financial disclosure required: No. Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
• Announcement number: CBTB-13103806-27-DJ
• Control number: 891168300

Open to

• U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s hiring rules and pay scales.

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

Incumbent will maintain appropriate level of computer literacy to use the stations’ engineering software package. Incumbent will receive general supervision from the Supervisory Maintenance Mechanic as to work schedules, operating policies and procedures. Incumbent will work alone most of the time. He/she will work from blueprints, drawings, or other specifications. The duties are performed in the following trades: electrical, constructing, altering, maintaining, and finishing, air conditioning, welding, machinist, automotive mechanic, pipefitting, and boiler plant operator at the WJB Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, South Carolina. Use standard methods of combustion, heat transfer principles, and fuel characteristics to install, repair, and maintain heating boilers and domestic heating units and systems. Maintains constant observation of flowmeters and charts to determine amount of steam produced and if it meets the demands or exceeds them, and the amount of fuel used and evaporated. The incumbent will be responsible for following an assignment through completion from lay out to final assembly.

Work Schedule: 7:00am – 3:30pm, Monday to Friday

Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD01825A

Physical Requirements: The work requires a considerable amount of standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and working in tiring and/or uncomfortable positions. May be ask to weld overhead or other unusual positions. The incumbent may work from ladders and scaffolding. When operating equipment, the worker may be under a great deal of strain from constant reaching, bending, turning, and moving of hands, arms, feet, legs, and by the vibration and jerking of the equipment. The incumbent carries, lifts, and handles parts and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds and may occasionally exceed 50 pounds.

Requirements

Conditions of employment:

• 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.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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;
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision

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