Tractor Operator

About the role

The Tractor Operator position is located in the Engineering Department within the Facilities Management Service Line at the Des Moines VA Medical Center. The position operates tractors and related mobile equipment to transport passengers and cargo between facilities; performs grounds installation, maintenance, and repair; and conducts routine equipment adjustments and preventive maintenance to ensure safe, efficient, and dependable facility operations.

Responsibilities

• Operates a full range of vehicles and mobile equipment to support campus transportation and logistics
• Drives passenger cars, sedans, station wagons, pickup trucks, 15‑passenger vans, one‑ton dump trucks, and cargo trucks up to 24,000 lb GVWR equipped with hydraulic or electronic lift gates
• Transports self‑sufficient patients, coworkers, medical records, supplies, and materials between VA locations
• Selects safe travel routes using current road, weather, and traffic conditions
• Complies with State and Federal driving laws and VA policies
• Loads and unloads cargo following safe handling and tie‑down procedures
• Maneuvers vehicles in congested areas and during docking/positioning to protect pedestrians, vehicles, buildings, and grounds
• Performs grounds tasks including seeding, sodding, fertilizing, planting, watering, pruning, mulching, and general landscape repair aligned to seasonal schedules and project work orders
• Operates farm‑type tractors and implements (mowers, aerators, plows, harrows, chippers, sprayers, disks, post‑hole diggers, front‑end loaders, dozer blades, backhoes) to complete assigned grounds projects
• Operates tractors and attachments on steep slopes, ravines, ditches, soft ground, and other rough/uneven terrain where overturn hazards exist
• Troubleshoots operating problems with tractors, implements, and mobile equipment; identifies hazards; performs minor adjustments (e.g., belts, chains, hydraulic couplers, tire pressure); lubricates, cleans, and conducts routine preventive maintenance; refers non‑routine repairs to qualified maintenance staff
• Maintains logs for equipment usage, vehicle mileage, hours of operation, fuel consumption, and minor maintenance performed
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Current and valid Class D Chauffeur license with Passenger Endorsement (screen‑out requirement)
• Physical effort: operates and rides on equipment for extended periods; frequently bends, stoops, climbs, kneels, reaches, works in cramped or awkward positions; handles materials and tools; lifts/carries items up to 100 lb (using team lifts or mechanical assistance for heavier loads)
• Work conditions: outdoors and in vehicle cabs under all weather conditions (extreme heat, cold, humidity, snow, ice); exposed to noise, vibration, fumes, dust, grease, uneven or hazardous terrain; risks include overturned equipment, falls, cuts, abrasions, burns, electrical hazards, contact with moving parts; may work in confined areas, on steep slopes, or at elevated locations (e.g., rooftops); may be called outside normal duty hours for snow removal or emergency transportation
• Rating: applicants evaluated against OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications using the job element method; screen‑out element (WG‑2 and higher) then rated on job elements: Drive Safely, Interpret Instructions‑Specifications (mobile equipment operations), Motor Vehicles Operate Safely (Non‑Motor Vehicle), Reliability And Dependability, Work Practices
• Experience: no specific length required; resume must include month/year start/end dates; part‑time credited proportionally; volunteer, unpaid, and National Service experience count

Schedule

Monday‑Friday, 7:00 am – 3:30 pm