Maintenance Worker

Department of the Interior

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Summary

You will serve as a Maintenance Worker with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Loleta, California.

You will perform a wide range of construction, repair, and maintenance work on buildings, facilities, vehicles, heavy equipment, and refuge lands while using hand tools, power tools, specialized machinery, and various trade techniques to support daily operations and land management needs.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to United States Citizens; U.S. Nationals; and Career transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

- Perform building and facility maintenance by repairing electrical systems, heating and cooling units, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, masonry, painting, and welding using hand tools, power tools, testing devices, and trade equipment.
- Maintain and repair vehicles, heavy machinery, small engines, and equipment by replacing parts, troubleshooting mechanical issues, completing preventative service, and installing hardware or software components.
- Operate heavy equipment and motor vehicles such as bulldozers, excavators, loaders, tractors, trailers, and trucks to complete earth-moving, road and trail work, land management tasks, pesticide application, and equipment transport.
- Lead small projects by planning work steps, training others, promoting safe practices, maintaining equipment records, and entering maintenance information into approved computer systems.
- Support refuge operations by maintaining water control structures, performing habitat restoration, installing fences and signs, assisting with land management activities, and completing other related maintenance tasks as needed.

Physical Demands
- The work requires significant physical effort, including heavy lifting, carrying, and setting up parts and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds unassisted and more than 50 pounds with assistance.
- Tasks involve extensive standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing, and working in tiring or uncomfortable positions.
- Work frequently requires the use of jacks, pulleys, dollies, ladders, scaffolding, and platforms, as well as working in hard-to-reach or high places.
- Operation of vehicles and heavy equipment requires constant arm and leg movement, coordination, and alertness for safe control.

Working Conditions
- Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, with approximately 95 percent occurring outdoors.
- Outdoor work exposes the worker to all weather conditions, running water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, and moving equipment or machinery.
- Work sites include steep terrain, uneven and slippery surfaces, rocky ground, forests, and other rugged environments.
- There is regular exposure to hazards such as cuts, bruises, falls, falling materials, loud noise, and risk of injury from operating machinery or working near public roads.
- Required use of personal protective equipment includes protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, steel-toe boots, respirators, and other safety gear.
- Work may involve hazardous materials, requiring proper storage, handling, labeling, and disposal according to federal and state environmental standards.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
Direct Deposit participation required.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
Must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license.
Must obtain within two (2) years of start date and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL Class A), including meeting all CDL requirements such as the Department of Transportation physical exam, drug and alcohol testing requirements, and the minimum age of 21.
Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive test is received.
Must wear the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform in accordance with agency policy.
Must obtain and maintain all required certifications and licenses related to equipment operation.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a pesticide applicator's license, if required by assigned duties.
Must meet safety requirements and use required personal protective equipment.
May be required to meet physical readiness standards if assigned collateral firefighter duties.
Must be willing to work weekends, including early morning hours to address emergencies for occasional infrastructure and weather-related emergencies that require immediate attention.
You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

*Additional Requirements located under Additional Information*

Qualifications

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/17/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision (SCREEN OUT)
Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc.
Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
Use of Measuring Instruments
Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
Knowledge of Materials
Vehicle Operation (SCREEN OUT)

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factors above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630).

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level.

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.

Review our 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.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories:

Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position

Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job

Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:

Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. (SCREEN OUT)
Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc.
Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
Use of Measuring Instruments
Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
Knowledge of Materials
Vehicle Operation (SCREEN OUT)

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/17/2026:

Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the qualification requirements. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
Complete Required Assessment.
Documentation that you meet Selective Factors.
Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.va.gov/records/ or call 1-800-827-1000. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (I/CTAP): If you are applying under I/CTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 08/17/2026 to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

Click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13015956
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Agency contact information

Becky Olson

Phone: 218-853-5937
Email: becky_olson@ios.doi.gov

Address: Division of Human Resources
Division of Human Resources
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
US

Next steps

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated.

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.

Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.

Maintenance Worker Job in Loleta, CA