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This Locksmith position is aligned under the Architectural Shop/Section in the Facilities Management Division at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI. The work involves repairing, overhauling, modifying, testing, and installing a variety of locking devices typically found on doors, desks, compartments, mobile equipment, safes, vaults, and other secured locations. The work extends beyond the duplication requests of keys and the keying/combinating of locking mechanisms. Additionally, the work involves construction, altering, maintaining, and repairing buildings, structures, partitions, panels, and other items using wood, wood substitutes, and composite building materials.

Major Duties:

• Performs the full range of work in the installation, repair, maintenance and modification of a wide variety of commercial locking devices with varying makes and models found in doors, desks, safes, vaults, compartments, mobile equipment, and secured areas.
• Provides expertise and advice and recommendations to management on the most appropriate locking device capabilities/systems for specific security requirements and application.
• Attends seminars and carefully reviews trade journals, catalogs, regulations and manuals to maintain expert knowledge.
• Responsible for the development and maintaining records, including data entry and updating key information in the space files, files, lists of requirements and installations, etc.
• Coordinates work with personnel in other shops or trades.
• Develops and maintains a special key hardware system for use in special areas such as mental health, HOPTEL, meeting all special requirements for these areas.
• Carpentry tasks such as alterations and/or remodeling which include removing and installing partitions, additions to buildings, opening of walls for installation of doors and windows, cut and sets concrete forms, lay out and cut roof rafters and joist's, lay out fabricate and install stairs.
• Reads, interprets, and works from construction drawings and blueprints, both common and complex, and/or oral instructions from the Unit Supervisor to cut lumber to size for ceiling and floor plates, studs, braces headers, framework for doors and windows, including headers and anchors.
• Performs inspection and repair of fire and smoke barriers on the campus.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 7 AM-3:30 PM, may be required to be present to provide off-hours emergency support. *The position is AWS eligible for 8 - 9 hr days, 1 - 8 hr day and one day off a pay period, the day off being a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Position Description Title/PD#: Locksmith/18240O

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 04/14/2026.

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.

Your resume background must demonstrate knowledge of the full range and functional characteristics of locking devices and their component parts to include the installation, internal structure, and operating characteristics of a wide variety of locking systems from various manufacturers. Broad knowledge of the functions and capabilities of commercially manufactured locking devices, as well as their working interrelationships with a variety of equipment such as monitors, alarms, timing mechanisms, sensors, and other related items which make up a complete security or surveillance system in order to provide management with recommendations regarding the most suitable locks to be used in solving specific security problems and/or requirements that require the significant modification and adaptation of locking mechanisms for uses to which they were not specifically designed, or to hamper or prevent the use of standard neutralization techniques. Skill in fabricating parts from a variety of materials, using welding equipment, hand tools and power tools such as grinders, lathes, milling machines, and drill presses, devising or changing combinations, establishing master keying systems, neutralizing lockouts, and a variety of installation and repair processes such as filing, drilling, chiseling, and grinding. Read, interpret, apply technical manuals, manufacturer's diagrams/specifications, and be able to prepare diagrams to identify dimensions or special parts requirements. Must know shop math to include fractions. Ability to serve as a consultant to management by providing technical expertise and advisory services pertaining to locksmithing.

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)
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Troubleshooting
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment

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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Work assignments require standing, stooping, bending, kneeling for prolonged periods as well as working in cramped and awkward positions. Incumbent is required to lift items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds. Work is normally performed in a well-lighted, heated and ventilated area. Occasionally work is done outside in inclement weather or in areas that are drafty and poorly lighted. Incumbent is exposed to the possibility of cuts, bruises, scrapes, and serious burns.

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.