Motor Vehicle Operator

This position serves as a Motor Vehicle Operator in Nutrition and Food Services at the VA Health Care System in Lexington, Kentucky. The primary purpose of this position is to facilitate food and nourishment preparation, patient tray assembly, delivery, and pick up to and from two divisions (Cooper Drive Division and Leestown Road Division). Major duties include but are not limited to: Operates government owned vehicles for the VA Medical Center, Nutrition and Food Services; Transports inpatient food trays to both Cooper Drive and Leestown Road locations; Delivers bulk nourishments/tube feedings/early and late trays to units; Performs food production and tray assembly line operation; Assists in removing and making deliveries of food carts in a timely manner at multiple delivery sites; Assures that all items are correctly handled during transportation between facilities; Maintains necessary records such as the Motor Vehicle Operator Daily Log indicating times spent in delivery runs, problems encountered, and fuel and fluid levels on the vehicle; Performs weekly vehicle inspections, reporting any mechanical problems with the vehicle to the supervisor; Maintains proper sanitation, cleaning the vehicle on a daily shift basis; Makes sound decisions in an emergency, have excellent driving skills and record. Follows specific oral and written instructions regarding operation and care of equipment; Operates vehicles in all types of weather; Moves equipment and supplies as needed; and Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Alternating Days, Shifts (6:00am • 2:30pm, 11:00am • 7:30pm), Alternating Weekends Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Work requires constant lifting and moving heavy objects from moderate (45 pounds) to heavy (50 pounds); bending and stooping; constant walking and standing; pushing food conveyors, carts and other equipment that may weigh up to 600 pounds. Work is subject to pressure in completing assignments in accordance with a close time schedule. May be required to operate portable pallet jack and lift portable docks and operate battery-powered tuggers used to pull food carts. The work requires that employee be outside and drive in all types of weather conditions. There are many times during the winter that the incumbent will be required to drive trucks in deep snow and on icy streets. Under these conditions, vehicle control is extremely difficult and requires rapid movement of arms and legs to keep from losing control of vehicle. It may be necessary to call supervisor or Utilities Operator to report the need for roadside assistance for the vehicle in all types of weather. Performance of Food Service portion of assignment is performed in kitchen areas where the steam end heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often causes uncomfortable high temperatures and humidity. The work area is well lighted but usually noisy from food service activities and there is a danger of slipping on floors, where food or beverages have been dropped. Incumbent is regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades. hot cooking and rethermalization surfaces and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration and freezer units. Incumbent is routinely exposed to chemicals used for sanitation in food service areas. Driver's License (Screen-Out): A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Drive Safely Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations) Motor Vehicles Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle) Reliability And Dependability Without more than normal supervision Work Practices IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Pre-employment physical 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 identification 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 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.