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Facility Operations Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

This position is responsible for providing administrative and technical support to the Chief of Facilities Management Service (FMS) at the VA Central Western Massachusetts (VACWM). Performs a wide variety of administrative, technical and program duties essential to support all sections of FMS.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/11/2026 to 05/26/2026
Salary
$69,642 - $90,540 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Leeds, MA
1 vacancy
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
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBTD-12958340-26-JN
Control number
868809500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current permanent VA employees, All Federal employees serving on a Career or Career-Conditional appointment, Former Federal employees eligible for reinstatement, current Permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 OR full-time Title 38 employees, 30% Disabled Veterans, or Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), People with Disabilities, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), and certain military spouses.

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Duties

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The work consists of various duties, projects or assignments sometimes involving different and unrelated program analysis technical processes and procedures. Assignments or projects involve various types and sources of information, nonrecurring problems, trends and issues. The purpose of the work is to plan and carry out assignments, which affect and improve the efficiency and productivity of the organization's operations. As well as focusing on life safety code compliance and subject matter expert including documentation maintenance for Joint Commission.

Some duties including but limited to:

  • The primary focus is life safety code compliance and subject matter expert including documentation maintenance for Joint Commission.
  • Obtains relevant information regarding requests for repairs or replacement of equipment that is under warranty, covered by a service or commodity contract, and coordinates all the appropriate actions for service, maintenance or repair as needed.
  • Performs the duties of Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for all TJC, EC, and LS service contracts, such as fire alarm testing & inspection ,etc.
  • Performs inspections & trainings. Ensures all records are up to date, all-inclusive, organized and immediately available to inspectors both electronically and in hard copy.
  • Knowledge of OSHA, VA Safety and Health regulations, policies and procedures regarding personal protection, fire safety, hot work, accident reporting, and infection control on construction projects.
  • Serves as the FMS section OSHA training coordinator which includes preparing the yearly training plan, tracking training in a database, and submitting necessary reports to the Chief of FMS.
  • Serves as manager regarding The Joint Commission (TJC) compliance; Life Safety(LS); Environment of Care (EC) & Annual Workplace Evaluation (AWE). Performs all TJC, EC, and LS inspections.
  • Maintains current and accurate database on facility information resources for Capital Asset Management Systems (CAMS) program
  • Develops & maintains computerized spreadsheets in order to effectively operate and utilize computerized maintenance management system.
  • Computer literate and fully knowledgeable of how to effectively utilize a computerized maintenance management system. Knowledge and skill in use of office automation software.
  • Performs some tasks on short notice and must produce accurate results in order to ensure the orderly progress of complex and highly time-sensitive construction projects. Research, survey work, self-study, and education are at times required to keep up to date with various programs.
  • Maintains effective working relationships with professional, technical and management elements within the Medical Center, the Department of Veterans Affairs and outside the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Knowledge of project maintenance; organization; planning; control; staffing and funding, NFPA and VA requirements, as well as, acquisition and contract activities, procedures, and relationships.
  • Ensures personal safety while visiting construction sites and the ability to recognize unsafe situations associated with construction contractor's work. Familiarization with CADD, within a minimal ability to edit existing drawings, create and print sketches for reports and to document inspections, etc. Knowledge of construction contract requirements, general construction procedures, processes, construction trades, and organization.
  • Skill in using office automation software (Microsoft Office, Excel, Access, Light-scribe Burner/CD and DVD copier hardware/software) in order to create and/or update and revise existing databases and/or spreadsheets to produce a wide range of documents. Skill in operation of office equipment (copiers, scanners, large plotters for engineering drawings, and fax machines).
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Facility Operations Specialist/PD022910
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • 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, 05/26/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Quality Ranking Factor- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA experience / Quality Management & Compliance.

Individual Occupational Requirements: Undergraduate and Graduate Education:

  • Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- engineering, industrial arts, property management, or business administration. OR
  • Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
    • Managing a maintenance program for office or apartment building complexes, hospitals, recreation facilities, military, or other special-purpose installations, including planning maintenance activities, and developing preventive maintenance programs.

    • Conducting surveillance activities over construction and maintenance operations performed by a variety of private contractors, including reviewing project plans and specifications for workability, informing contractors of construction and reporting requirements, and supervising operations for conformance with project plans.

    • Performing maintenance or construction work, including estimating material and labor costs for a variety of construction or maintenance projects (such as construction or maintenance of brick, frame, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and other type structures ranging from one- or two-story buildings to larger structures), directing actual work operations, and maintaining appropriate contacts with the organization funding the project.


Grade Determination:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR, two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR, LL.B., or J.D., if related . OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.).
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


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: Work is usually performed in an office environment. However, inspections; investigations of work requests; evaluations of space and utilities for equipment and other field work require frequent walking, standing, bending, climbing, etc.

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/.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

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. 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.

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.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE").

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.gov.

Agency contact information

Jessica Nieves
Phone
413-584-4040 X6777
Email
jessica.nieves@va.gov
Address
VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System
421 North Main Street
Leeds, MA 1053
US

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