Duties
This position serves as a Maintenance Mechanic at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), performing journey-level and developmental work across multiple skilled trades, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing/pipefitting, boiler plant operations, and carpentry.
This is a career ladder position with promotion potential to WG-11.
Employees selected at the WG-09 level will perform developmental assignments under closer supervision.
As experience and proficiency increase, assignments become progressively more complex until the full performance level is reached.
This is an essential position. The incumbent is required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather. The tour of duty may include holidays, weekends, and rotating shifts.
Duties quoted below are for the WG-10 grade level.
Major Duties Include:
HVAC
Maintain, troubleshoot, repair, install, and operate a wide range of commercial and industrial HVAC systems.
Diagnose control and equipment malfunctions using testing instruments and prescribed procedures.
Perform repairs involving heating, cooling, humidification, dehumidification, filtration, and air circulation systems supporting USBG facilities and greenhouses.
Balance systems and resolve complex HVAC performance issues at the WG-10 level.
Electrical Monitoring and Equipment
Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair electrical control and monitoring systems.
Diagnose malfunctions in relay systems, interface devices, and analog/digital controls.
Test electrical systems for correct operating conditions and compliance with applicable codes.
Plumbing/Pipefitting Systems
Install, alter, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair high- and low-pressure piping systems.
Work on domestic water, sewage, steam generation, hydronic heating, fire sprinkler, irrigation, and tempered water systems.
Carpentry
Construct, install, repair, and modify wood and wood substitute structures.
Perform glazing, painting, finishing, and installation of partitions, flooring, ceilings, countertops, moldings, and greenhouse glazing components.
Safely operate hand and power woodworking tools.
Maintains and Repairs Boilers
Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair low- and medium-pressure boilers and associated auxiliary equipment.
Conduct scheduled preventive maintenance, inspections, and seasonal system shutdown/startup activities.
Monitor and adjust computer-operated environmental control systems supporting greenhouse environments.
Sustains efficient combustion levels and ensures compliance with air pollution laws or regulations.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be able to pass a drug test.
- Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:
- A citizen of the United States;
- A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
- A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
- A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
- A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must show experience in at least two of the following occupational areas: Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing or Carpentry. This experience must be reflected in your resume.
You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT: Ability to perform the duties of a maintenance mechanic (i.e. heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical, carpentry, plumbing/pipefitting boiler plant maintenance) without more than normal supervision.
You may qualify at the WG-09 level: Performing hands on maintenance or repair work involving one or more skilled trades, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing/pipefitting, boiler or mechanical systems, or carpentry.
You may qualify at the WG-10 level: Independently performing journey-level maintenance mechanic work across multiple skilled trades, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing/pipefitting, boiler systems, and carpentry, with minimal supervision.
You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.
Additional information
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.
DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm
The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Moving expenses are not authorized.
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.
All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc.
Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).
The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.
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.
Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.
Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies
1. Knowledge of Building Maintenance Trades
2. Skill in Troubleshooting and Repair
3. Ability to Use Tools, Equipment, and Diagnostics
4. Knowledge of Safety and Regulatory Requirements
5. Ability to Work Independently and Follow Instructions
Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.
Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.
To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information. No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application.
We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials. The resume should include dates of employment.
Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.
For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.
If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).
If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.