This position is located within the Facilities Operation and Management unit (FOMU) of the National Bio Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will serve as the supervisor over a staff responsible for the full range of pipefitting, plumbing, and autoclave maintenance and repair duties.

Duties

Serves as the supervisor over a staff responsible for the full range of pipefitting and plumbing and autoclave maintenance and repair. Plans daily, weekly or monthly work schedules and sequence of operations for subordinates. Serves as a technical authority on electrical, plumbing, pipefitting, and instrument support activities. Investigates problems such as excessive costs or low productivity and determines causes. Uses a variety of test equipment such as volt-ohm meters, transistor testers, digital meters, oscilloscopes, bearing analyzers, phase and null meters, galvanometers, and computerized automatic test equipment. Plans, develops and conducts training during workweek to a multi-faceted workforce. Performs the full range of journeyman work in the absence or shortage of help, during periods of heavy workload, or when emergencies arise.

Requirements

• 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.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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/
• Supervisory Responsibilities (EEO Statement).
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Drug Test Required.
• Vaccine(s) Required.
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands.
• SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
• Immunizations may be required.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.
• This is an essential/emergency position. The incumbent is required to report for duty during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when there is Government closure due to inclement weather or budget cut-off.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement: 11/14/2023. 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 lead or supervise duties of a, Utility Systems Repairer-Operator Leader (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration. Working Conditions This is an essential/emergency position. The incumbent is required to report for duty during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when there is Government closure due to inclement weather or budget cut-off. Other Considerations This is a Public Trust Position and requires that the incumbent be a United States Citizen. The incumbent maintains a Backflow Device Tester Certification. The mission of NBAF includes research, diagnosis and training for animal diseases foreign to the U.S. for the purpose of protecting American agriculture and domestic food sources from their potentially devastating effects. NBAF is vital to successfully protecting U.S. agriculture from the intentional or non-intentional introduction of foreign animal diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth disease. The position supports the biocontainment facilities and may require entry into biosafety level (BSL) 3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and BSL-4 labs. The incumbent must demonstrate the physical and psychological capability to conduct normal duties that are appropriate to their position. To prevent the transmission of disease out of biocontainment and retention of the position, the incumbent must meet the following medical standards in a pre-employment medical examination conducted after the receipt of a preliminary job offer and on a periodic basis: Ability to shower out of biocontainment one or more times per day; Not have any skin condition which would prevent this; Body piercings must be able to be removed prior to entry; External medical assist devices must have the ability to be removed prior to entering or not impede the ability to enter biocontainment, and the individual must still be able to shower out safely without assistance; Ability to follow instructions regarding decontamination from biocontainment; Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her co-workers, such as: insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment. Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness or unfitness for duty determinations will be indicated. The incumbent will also be required to pass periodic fitness-for-duty physicals. In addition, a medical clearance will be required in the event that it becomes necessary to enter an area where an air purifying respirator or other respiratory protection is required. A baseline blood sample may be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facilities. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at SEPRL which are transmissible to humans may be required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness under the provision of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392. Where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for investigational purposes, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary. Due to the contagious nature to poultry and other birds of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease, and other diseases under study at SEPRL, biosafety protocols specify a personal quarantine for employees working on specific infectious agents in designated areas of SEPRL. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering these areas at SEPRL shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from SEPRL for a period of five (5) or seven days depending on the agent. Currently, restricted species are birds (agricultural and pet birds), but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near infectious agents affecting these species. Restricted birds may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where the quarantine cannot be enforced. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary action.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Robert Green
• Phone: (703) 259-9392
• Email: [email protected]