Tractor Operator

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS), located in Prescott, AZ.

This position is part of Grounds section of Facilities Management Service.

The primary purpose of the position is perform the duties of a Tractor Operator/Gardner by operating various types of tractors, trucks, and mowers sweepers with various types of attachments, hand and power tools in the care and maintenance of the exterior grounds.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/23/2026.

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.

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: Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc.

(Related to Mobile Equipment Operation) Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles) Operation of Motor Vehicles Without more than normal supervision Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) 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:Heavy physical effort is used by the operators in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate the equipment and attachments.

Considerable strain is caused by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating over rough surfaces.

Because of the location of some of the controls and attachments, the operators are frequently required to work in awkward or strained positions.

The work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows, bending, and stooping.

The employee occasionally climbs ladders to prune or trim vegetation and frequently lifts heavy objects such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, etc., up to 50 lbs., unassisted, or up to 100 lbs., assisted, while moving or loading and unloading cargo.

Occasionally, they move heavier items with assistance of other workers or mechanical lifting devices.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in all types of weather, often in an open driver's seat or platform, on hills, slopes, grades, rolling surfaces, and forests.

The operators are exposed to injury due to the possibility of the equipment overturning. They are subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from the motor and exhaust.

There is chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and occasional possibility of broken bones from falls, equipment misuse, or malfunction. Major Duties:

The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Operating farm-type tractors and towed or attached equipment such as mowers, aerators, plows, harrows, chippers, sprayers, discs, post-hole diggers, front-end loading devices, moveable dozer blades, and backhoes with extended boom capability.

Operating and maintaining automobiles, pickup trucks, two-ton dump trucks, vans (up to 15 passenger), forklifts, street sweepers, trenchers, soil compactors, box scrappers, cargo vans, and elevated personnel work platforms.

Maintaining turf areas using specialized equipment, mowing areas such as facility grounds. Operating and maintaining lawns, roads, and parking lots.

Operating one or more types of heavy equipment to push, pull, pile, or load materials such as sand, gravel, earth, snow, or refuse.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Tractor Operator/PD13576A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized