Pipefitter- Direct Hire Authority

Summary

This position serves as a Pipefitter within the Facility Management Service of the Aleda E Lutz VA Medical Center, located in Saginaw, Michigan.

Duties

• Duties may include, but are not limited to: Performs all duties of a journeyman Pipefitter and is assigned to the Pipe Shop within the Utility Systems Section of Facilities Management Service (FMS).
• The work involves installing, modifying, repairing, and maintaining new and existing utility systems and equipment.
• Utilities include low, medium, and high-pressure piping systems, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, medical gas systems, steam, condensate, vacuum, sanitary, drainage and compressed air.
• Equipment includes items such as steam humidifiers, steam generators, water heaters, boilers, electric steam generators, deaerator/expansion tanks, circulating pumps, and radiant fin-tube and panels, along with associated piping/controls equipment.
• Other items to maintain/install include water closets, sinks, tubs, showers, and backflow preventers and the associated equipment such as flush valves, and mixing valves.
• Drains, toilets, and sink maintenance includes plunging and snaking to clear the lines as needed.
• Incumbent installs or repairs new or existing copper, galvanized, black iron, cast iron, stainless, rubber, CPVC, and PVC pipes for utilities and medical gases.
• Methods of installation include sweating, brazing, gluing, and mechanical means.
• Installs equipment by planning and determining where to place the equipment at the proper location.
• Join, seal, and test the systems for proper pressures to ensure leak-free joints and operation.
• The supervisor checks the overall work to see that it meets accepted building codes and trade standards.
• Subject to recall for emergency repairs during non-administrative hours.
• Incumbent performs preventive maintenance on various systems throughout the Medical Center, including electronic mixing valves, thermostatic mixing valves, steam humidifiers, hose bibbs, exercising valves, backflow prevention, and any other system that may fall into their work set.
• Monitor the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and Building Management Systems (BMS) daily.
• Purchase materials and services through Computer-based programs.
• Use Microsoft Office programs on a daily basis for communication.
• For record-keeping, spreadsheets are utilized to record data.
• Parts order and service requests shall be entered and approved through a computer system.
• Installs, modifies, and maintains all systems associated with the sprinkler system such as piping, risers, valves, gauges, hose connections, heads, backflow prevention, and knowledge of the fire alarm panel.
• Works from building plans, blueprints, and sketches to install, modify, and repair systems like those described above by setting up system routes, placing and cutting route openings, placing hangers for proper pitch and elevation, and determining and installing such things as risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, pumps, gauges, pressure regulators, valves, traps, and unions in the combination needed to support the pressures and proper operation of the systems.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 07:00am-3:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter- Direct Hire Authority/PD92076A PHYSICAL EFFORT and WORKING CONDITIONS: Employee will make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms, and where the systems and equipment worked on are in hard-to-reach places.
• Employee will be standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions.
• Employee will frequently handle, lift, carry and set up parts and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds.
• Occasionally items may weigh more than 50 pounds.
• Work is done inside and outside, and is usually dirty, dusty, greasy, and smelly.
• There is frequent exposure to the possibility of uncomfortable heat conditions.
• The employee is exposed to the possibility of strains, cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, and infections.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to the possibility of broken bones.
• Employee may be required to work in areas that have asbestos containing materials and will, therefore, be required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) including respirators and other equipment to prevent possible asbestos exposure.
• You will be responsible for completing respirator training, fit testing and training in the proper use and maintenance of general PPE.

Requirements

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 Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

Conditions of employment include:

• 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; and 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.

Required Documents

Prepare the documents below before applying. Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position:

• Documents Required: Resume Documents Accepted: Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Other (2) Other (3) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
• Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
• Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply.
• Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
• Applications are accepted online.
• Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.