Clarification from the agency

Current permanent USDA-ARS employees with competitive status and USDA CTAP/RPL eligibles that are within the local commuting area.

• Oversees repair, operation, and maintenance of utility plant equipment and systems including steam boilers, pumps, heat exchangers, chillers, air compressors, generators, electrical switchgear, combustion turbine, and wastewater treatment plant.
• Properly coordinates utilization of personnel with specific skills to accomplish maintenance or operational duties.
• Reviews plant layout including drawings and circuit diagrams of the boilers, chillers, and auxiliary equipment and makes independent decisions and judgments regarding plant operations.
• Make adjustments necessary to start, operate, and maintain utility plant and HVAC systems and equipment.
• Uses comprehensive knowledge of all utility plant and HVAC systems and equipment operations.

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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Driver's License Required.
• Pre-Employment Physical Required.
• The ability to obtain/maintain a favorable adjudicated Tier 2 background investigation.
• The ability to obtain/maintain a favorable adjudication from a Security Risk Assessment (SRA) from the federal Select Agent Program.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement:

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 Utility System Repairer Operator Leader, without more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration.

Physical Effort:
Work requires close hand-and-eye coordination, active walking, and prolonged periods of standing on concrete floor, climbing, bending, reaching, and working in cramped positions or crowded areas. May be required to lift equipment or material weighing up to 75 lbs.

Working Conditions:
Duties are performed inside heated buildings but may be required to work on equipment in or on roofs of outlying buildings in inclement weather for short periods of time. Required to wear full face respirators when working biological control areas. Restricted facial hair may be imposed by the supervisor for proper use of personal protective equipment.

This position is scheduled to work Monday through Friday on a daytime schedule; however, it may be required to work on a nonstandard tour of duty and-or alternative work schedule because of extended coverage needed for certain conditions, such as mission requirements, contractor support, scheduled outages, etc.

This is an essential position that must report during times of emergency or inclement weather; and may be subjected to call-back situations or to work on weekends, evenings, holidays, or after hours when necessary, during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when the government is closed due to inclement weather.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading)
• Ability to Lead or Supervise
• Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc.
• Knowledge of Materials
• Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
• Use of Measuring Instruments

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. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

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/12954367

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: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; 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); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
• Current and former Federal employees:
  • Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
  • Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.
• 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.

Next steps