Summary
The Maintenance Worker will perform a variety of duties involved in the maintenance of the office complexes, laboratories, machine and automotive shops, dormitories, telescope buildings, and other ancillary structures at FLWO that are in 24 hour, 365 day/year operation; and the infrastructure associated with a remote site location including the mountain road and water storage systems.
Duties
Performs a variety of duties in support of scientific projects and facilities and maintenance of the Observatory’s buildings, infrastructure, grounds, and mountain road, including the following:
• Painting: Performs spray or brush painting of walls, ceilings, exterior of buildings, doors, window frames, siding, and trim. Masks surfaces preparatory to painting. Applies specialized coatings to roofs.
• Carpentry: Performs rough or simple type carpentry in the repair and maintenance of buildings and related furnishings or structures. Duties may include framing, box construction, and concrete forms, making minor repairs such as replacing broken boards, nailing down loose wall siding, and caulking doors and window sills.
• Welding: Welds parts used to repair such things as telescope structures, railings, or heavy equipment. Depending upon proficiency, may assist other staff members who are highly specialized welders.
• Plumbing: Perform a variety of maintenance and repairs to the facility’s plumbing fixtures. Repair faucets, drains and toilets. Maintains waterless urinals. Utilizes specialized plumbing equipment to clean out sink/shower drains and pipes.
• Roofing: Performs maintenance tasks such as patching leaky roofs and repairing flashing, masonry and concrete.
2. Works cooperatively with scientific and other support staff on a variety of modifications and repairs to telescope facilities. This may include such tasks as repairing seams of a telescope, the telescope dome or its rotation motor assembly Assists Ridge Telescopes’ staff with changing telescope instruments.
3. Operates heavy equipment such as forklifts, man lifts, front-end loaders, backhoes, cranes, etc. in open areas and on level, hilly and/or mountainous terrain to move earth, rocks, sand, stumps and other equipment. Operates snow plows and sanders in winter weather, transports optical and scientific equipment, and transports liquid nitrogen Dewars required for telescope instruments’ operation.
4. Performs a variety of routine tasks such as delivery and pick-up of light and heavy objects at the Administrative Complex and mountain facilities, fueling all types of vehicles and heavy equipment on the mountain, and performing minor servicing of all types of vehicles and heavy equipment. Serves as an alternate driver for Tucson pick up of goods.
5. Assists with cleaning debris and rocks from culverts (150) in the mountain road in cooperation with co-workers. Removal of fallen rocks is frequently required subsequent to rain storms and high winds.
6. Drives a 30-passenger bus on the mountain road during the months that public tours of the telescope facilities are offered.
7. Participates in maintenance of grounds as required, including tree trimming, weeding, and grass cutting on the mountain road or at the administrative complex.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Pre- and post-appointment background investigation required.
- May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
- Must participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds for salary payments
- Use of respirator and annual respirator fit testing and training required.
Applicants must have a valid driver's license.
Annual physical examinations are required to be certified for using a respiratory system for a limited number of tasks.
An annual respirator fit testing and training is required.
Heavy physical effort will be required in constantly reaching, bending, turning and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate tools, equipment, and vehicles. Due to the nature of some duties, the incumbent is required to work in awkward positions, on ladders and scaffolds, and will handle objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Working Conditions: Duties at the Ridge telescopes and on other areas of the mountain are recurring. The environment can be extreme, and range from dry heat to bitter cold. Travel to the Ridge or higher over a mountain road an be hazardous, and involve exposure to snow and rain, lightning, and flash floods.
Qualifications
Your overall experience and training must indicate that you have the minimum knowledge, skills, abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. There is no substitution of education for experience for this position. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Additional information on the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations can be found on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/index.html.
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.
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options. Please see Benefits at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/hr/benefits/fed/table.html for a complete description.
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 first be evaluated to determine whether the following screen out element is met:
Ability to perform the work of a maintenance worker with minimal supervision (screen-out).
If an applicant meets the screen-out element, the following Job Elements will be evaluated:
- Knowledge of the assembly, installation, and repair of wheeled vehicles.
- Skill in performing maintenance and repairs in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, roofing, and metalwork (welding).
- Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.
- Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (includes blueprinting reading).
- Knowledge of the technical practices of trade work (theoretical, precise).
Applicants who meet or exceed the screen-out element will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
Best Category - Meets the screen-out element and excels in most of the job related elements above.
Better Category - Meets the screen-out element and satisfies most of the job related elements above.
Good Category - Meets the screen-out element, but does not satisfy most of the job related elements above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-veterans within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no veteran in that category is passed over to select a non-veteran in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.
Veterans who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.
Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the announcement questions will not be considered for this position.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience.
Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
How to Apply
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
- You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
- You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process; OR You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
- The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.
Next steps
You will receive an e-mail to acknowledge that your application has been received. Please be aware that the confirmation e-mail could reside in your "junk" or "bulk" mail folder depending on your filters. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:
The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity.
A recruitment bonus may be paid.