Laborer

About the role

The Laborer position is located in the Facilities Management Service of the VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA campus. It is a full‑time role scheduled for 40 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Perform grounds and maintenance work, including moving materials, assisting journeymen, gardener helper, policing grounds, moving furniture, truck driver helper, loading/unloading trucks.
• Follow general instructions to perform tasks requiring moderately heavy to very heavy physical effort, involving multiple steps, prior experience/training, and manual skill.
• Use common hand tools and simple power equipment: hatchets, hand saws, clippers, buffers, grinders, screwdrivers, weed trimmers, low‑pressure sprayers, powered push lawn mowers, powered pavement vacuums.
• Dig ditches and holes with shovels, hand tampers, rakes; fill holes and level bumps.
• Operate simple powered push lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers; water grounds; lay sod; clear small trees and bushes with hand tools.
• Perform grounds maintenance on grades or slopes; dig ditches and trenches with picks and shovels where soil is hard/compact.
• Operate large walking‑type power mowers and simple riding‑type mowers with limited adjustments; manually adjust blade height, prepare gasoline/oil mixtures, clean and lubricate mowers.
• Perform limited road maintenance: use concrete, gravel, asphalt to fill/level holes; may break pavement with jackhammers; clear sidewalks with industrial‑type powered snow blowers.
• Cut trees using axes or chain saws.
• Wash buildings with high‑pressure sprayers when required.
• Separate, stack, carry, load/unload materials, supplies, packages.
• Perform snow work with shovels.
• Gain job‑specific expertise via on‑the‑job training, trade publications, vendor manuals, etc.
• Attend Engineering Monthly Staff Meetings for information and problem‑solving discussions.
• Wear required safety equipment and clothing; may work in any division of VA Boston Healthcare System.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work; a specific length of experience is not required. Evidence of knowledge, skills, and ability must be detailed on the resume. Rating follows OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. Screen‑out element (usually question 1) determines initial eligibility; those meeting the minimum acceptable qualification proceed to rating on the remaining job elements:

• Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
• Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (other than blueprint reading).
• Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.