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Student Trainee (Engineering)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Administrative Pathways Interns are positions that Engineering Service annually recruit and place in various areas of the VISN 2 Capital Asset Management office (CAM), to be trained by the various services in need of an intern. Each intern is to provide clerical, administrative support and facilitate the smooth functioning of the department.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
03/06/2023 to 03/09/2023
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$33,693 to - $57,280 per year

The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location.

Pay scale & grade
GS 4
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
East Orange, NJ
Lyons, NJ
Albany, NY
Bath, NY
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Temporary-NTE 2 YEARS
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
5
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBTE-11871188-23-GT
Control number
710927100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.

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Duties

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This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/.

The Student Trainee (General Engineer) duties include:

  • Assist in conducting investigation of existing, alternative or new engineering design, performing cost estimates, and taking field measurements.
  • Works with the assigned project engineer to develop scopes of contract work, review project designs, and submittals to assure the safe and satisfactory design and completion of construction work.
  • Utilizes Microsoft office products, Space and Equipment Planning System (SEPS), CAI (Capital Asset Inventory), SCIP Automation Tool (SAT), CAI (Capital Asset Inventory), Capital Assets Database, Technical Information Library (TIL), TIL Catalog, AutoCAD, VHA Support Service Center (VSSC), Building information modeling (BIM), Revit and other computer applications and software programs related to the engineering field in work processes.
  • Engineer Student is the Contracting Officers' Technical Representative (COTR). He/she will assist the Engineer with providing technical assistance to the Contracting Officer regarding budgetary and quality control of projects.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (8:00a-4:30p)

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement)
  • Accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution
  • Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Must possess a valid state driver license

Qualifications

Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.

You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below:

GS-04 Qualifications:
General Experience: One year of general experience. General experience is progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled, such as researching and collecting engineering technical data for analyses to identify discrepancies in computations.

OR,

Education: Two years of education above the high school level obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

OR,

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of by 60. Add the two percentages.

GS-05 Qualifications:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: the knowledge to initiate, formulate, design and develop plans and specifications in accordance with current principles of engineering and construction; working knowledge of applicable construction techniques; knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of construction management and administration.
OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 full academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree. One full academic year of undergraduate, graduate, vocational, trades, technical or high school education is the number of credit hours determined by the college, university or school to represent 1 year of full-time study. All education must be accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (transcripts must be submitted).
OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond . Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. For example, the position to be filled is a Student Trainee (General Engineer) , GS-5, and a candidate possesses 9 months of specialized experience and has completed one academic year of college. The candidate meets 75 percent of the required experience and 25 percent of the required education. He/she meets 100 percent of the requirement for 1 year of specialized experience and is qualified for the position (transcripts must be submitted)

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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Physical Requirements: Duties require periods of standing, walking, bending, climbing ladders and carrying light objects. Duties also require periods of sitting and of working at a computer while preparing reports, performing computer-aided design (CAD), email, cost estimates and other similar duties. Duties may require working other than normal daytime working hours.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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