Summary The incumbent is assigned to the Maintenance & Operations Section of the Engineering Service at the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC in Charleston, SC. Responsibilities Duties may include, but are not limited to: Installs, modifies, troubleshoots, and repairs new and existing high-pressure piping systems and equipment such as steam heating, steam generation, and hydraulic systems, steam generators, flash and expansion tanks, condensate, vacuum, and circulating pumps, and radiators. Incumbent installs, maintains and adjusts equipment such as meters, valves, compressors pumps, steam traps, grease traps, strainers, reducing valves, heating coils, radiators, automatic mixing valves, expansion tanks, dishwashers etc. Incumbent tests systems and equipment for proper operation, circulation, flow, pressure, and leak free joints. Traces and troubleshoots pipe, systems, and equipment to locate and repair leaks and trouble spots. Incumbent performs preventative maintenance inspection of systems and equipment. Incumbent works from blueprints and performs work using own judgment and decisions in order to plan, lay out, route and install/repair sewage, water, oil and gas distribution systems, bathroom fixtures, sprinkler systems or high-pressure piping systems. The incumbent must be familiar with the provisions of the International Plumbing Code, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 54 (National Fuel Gas Code and NFPA 99 (Heath Care Facilities Code) and sufficiently knowledgeable of the entire code to satisfactorily research special requirements or applications. The incumbent must be able to read and write, to interpret blueprints, drawings or sketches, work instructions from various sources, and technical guides of varying degrees of complexity as furnished by government agencies or equipment manufacturers. Work is assigned to the incumbent by the supervisor through work orders, engineering drawings or orally. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am-4:00 pm. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs. Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter/PD07645A Relocation/ Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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) Measurement and Layout Technical Practices Troubleshooting 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 indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The incumbent makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, and where the systems and equipment worked on are in hard to reach places. This requires him/ her to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. The incumbent frequently handles, lifts, carries, and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds, occasionally; he/she may lift and carry items that weigh over 50 pounds. Working Conditions: Incumbent must work in all conditions of weather; cold, rain, etc. Incumbent is exposed to dust, grease and oil. He/she is also required to make repairs and unstop sewer lines in areas where bad smelling fumes and sewer gases are present/ The incumbent is frequently exposed to the possibility of strains, cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, and infections. He/she is occasionally exposed to the possibility of broken bones. Incumbent works both indoors and outdoors and is required to work in cramped spaces with low overheads, crowded spaces, and areas near machinery and cutting tools. Incumbent's work environment is often unpleasant, disagreeable or hazardous and requires protective clothing and gear, safety devices, safe trade practices and mental alertness at all times. Incumbent follows prescribed safety practices and uses safety equipment such as ear devices, hard hats, hard-toe shoes, gloves, respirator, and protective clothing, as appropriate/required. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information 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. A supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. 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.