Laborer
What you'd do
The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Laborer. The Laborer will function under the Facilities Maintenance Service.
Major duties
Performs a full range of laborer functions at the Battle Creek VAMC including but not limited to the following: Heaving, lifting moving, disassembling, assembling of moderately heavy objects such as furniture, moving large equipment items (both crated and uncrated) mowing (both walk behind and riding type mowers), tree trimming, pruning, and seeding. Regularly operates zero-turn riding mowers equipped with 72-inch mower decks. They are designed for precision maneuvering in confined or obstructed spaces. The laborer uses these mowers in tight and sloped areas such as those located around buildings, near trees, and on grades of up to 20 percent. Operation of this equipment requires significant and continual maneuvering and lever control, performed on a regular and recurring basis due to the layout and terrain of the Medical Center grounds. The employees dig and fills in holes, ditches, trenches with pick and shovel where dirt is hard and compact. Breaks up pavement with jackhammer mixes and pours concrete, applies asphalt and hot mix products fills and levels holes in damaged roads. Performs snow removal duties to include shoveling snow, using a snow blower, plowing, and spreading salt & sand. For snow removal duties, the laborer operates John Deere compact tractors with significant horsepower, including models 3047R, 4066R, 3046R, 3039R, and 3720. These tractors are outfitted with front snow-plow blades and rear salters, and are used to clear roadways, walkways, and parking areas throughout the facility during winter weather events. Performs basic operator maintenance (cleans/washes) vehicles. Loading, unloading, and transporting furniture and supplies. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Hours may vary based on Medical Center needs. Position Description Title/PD#: Laborer/PD94138A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/16/2026. 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: 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/Working Conditions: The Laborer is expected to apply heavy physical effort on a daily ongoing basis, in doing such tasks as frequently lifting and moving objects weighing over 50 pounds (and often up to 100 pounds or more), operating power mowers on grades or pushing heavy equipment. Work requires operating large riding mowers on grades and plows and around obstacles which demands significant strength, control, and maneuvering skill. The physical effort also includes lifting of furniture and landscaping materials, removal of trees and other shrubbery, hand digging trenches, asphalt and concrete repairs, and manual snow removal with a shovel.
Before you apply
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