Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Job in Beltsville, MD

Vacancy No. ARS-S25Y-12650024-MDK Department Agricultural Research Service
Salary $33.61 to $39.26 Grade 10 to 10
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/31/2024 Close Date 1/14/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Beltsville, MD


Summary

These positions are located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Facilities Division in Beltsville, MD.

In these positions, you will be responsible for servicing, repairing, installing and maintaining refrigeration and air conditioning systems within the facilities throughout the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC).

Duties

  • Install and repair a variety of commercially-made laboratory equipment such as freeze dryers, refrigerated centrifuges, reverse cycle heat pumps, cascade systems, etc.
  • Prepare sketches and circuit diagrams.
  • Perform tasks relating to refrigeration and air conditioning systems in offices, laboratories, special purpose areas, and similar facilities.
  • Adjust and repair large and complex refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
  • Service and maintain control systems using electric, electronic, solid state, and pneumatic controls.
  • Use knowledge of the principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration such as the refrigeration cycle, heat transfer laws.
  • Adjust and repair large and complex refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
  • Detect and correct leaks in refrigeration systems, and test overhauled or reconditioned systems.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License required.
  • Must possess and maintain a Universal (Types I, II, and III) technician certification for refrigerant transition and recovery (as required by the EPA in 40 CFR, Part 82, Subpart F).
  • Subject to on-call duty outside normal duty hours, in accordance with procedures established for control of such on-call duty.
  • May be required to work weekends, holidays, or before/after normal duty hours when necessary.
  • May be required to report for duty during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when the Government is closed due to inclement weather.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement: 01/14/2025. Qualifications will be determined under the Job Element Rating System X-118C, Qualifications Standard Handbook. While a specific length of time and experience is not required for most Wage Grade positions, you must show through experience and training that you possess the best qualified level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of this position. Qualification requirements emphasize the quality of experience, not necessarily the length. The responses to the questionnaire and your resume should be in significant detail to provide the person rating your application with a good understanding of your ability to do the job, technical knowledge, work, and training experience, etc. (For example You must have the ability to perform the duties of a Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic without more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration.

Selective Placement Factor(s)
In addition to the experience requirement above, this position has a selective placement factor (SPF). Selective Placement Factors are special requirements, in addition to the minimum requirements, that are essential in successfully performing the duties of this job. If SPF experience is not documented, you will not receive further consideration under this announcement.
  • Must possess a Universal (Types I, II, or III) technician certification for refrigerant transition and recovery (as required by the EPA in 40 CFR, Part 82, Subpart F).
Physical Effort
Duties are performed on ladders and in cramped, crowded quarters. Work requires close eye hand coordination, walking, bending, and prolonged periods of standing. Lifting of material and equipment weighing over 50 pounds with appropriate support may be required. Hoists, holders, and pulleys are operated when removing units such as large compressors, condensers, and chillers. The incumbent uses ladders, scaffolding, and platforms to make repairs and installations. Frequently the incumbent must work in hard-to-reach places.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in extremes of temperature conditions inside and outside the buildings. Occasionally the incumbent is required to work on top of tall buildings, in drafty attic spaces, and in cramped areas with low overheads. Conditions potentially subject the incumbent to noise, cuts, burns, electrical shocks, and bruises. Protective clothing and/or equipment is required when there is a possibility of exposure to toxic refrigerants or other toxic conditions.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number ARS-M25Y-12650190-MDK. Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.
  • Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
  • This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
  • This position is designated as a bargaining unit positions and are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprinting reading)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly Installation, Repair, etc.
  • Knowledge of Materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
  • Trouble shooting
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12650024

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.
  • If claiming veteran's preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
  • If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.

To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g. SF-50s or veteran docs) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.

Agency contact information

Matthew Knoche
Address
Agricultural Research Service
10300 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.

You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status).

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to Candace.Jacobs@usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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