This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will serve as the operations Stationary Engineer and perform the full range of maintenance, repair, and preventive maintenance for a variety of complex systems and equipment for a large and complex research facility, such as HVAC, heating, electrical, plumbing, boilers, chillers, pumps, fire pumps, and generators.

Duties

Perform various checks, tests, adjustments, and troubleshooting tasks to determine the need of repair and operational work on cooling, heating, electrical, and plumbing systems. Assign work, direct temporary employees, provide technical guidance, demonstrate proper work methods, ensure safety rules are followed, check work in progress and upon completion, and report work status and delays to supervisor. Operate, repair, maintain, and monitor a bank of multiple mechanically fired, gas and oil-fueled, boilers, whose maximum generating capacity is 27,600 lbs. of steam per hour for each boiler, at 125 psi pressure. Operate and repair air compressors, fire pumps, domestic water booster pumps, cooling towers, water softeners and associate pumps, valves, and actuators. Perform plumbing such as cutting, threading and bending of pipe; replace pipes, fittings, and valves as necessary; replace water pumps, pressure tanks, and repair or replace water and steam piping, including boiler tubing. Install, modify, repair, maintain, troubleshoot, test, and load new and existing electric lines, circuits, and systems and associated fixtures, controls, and equipment.

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.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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/
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Drug Test 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.
• This is an essential/emergency position; the incumbent is required to report to duty during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when the Government is closed due to inclement weather of budget cut-off.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.
• Restrictions against contact with birds and livestock outside the laboratory may apply after entering high security animal facilities that are working with disease agents foreign to the United States.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement: 11/17/2023 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 perform the duties of a, Operations Utility Systems Repairer-Operator without more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration. Physical Effort The incumbent frequently works in strained positions while cleaning equipment or lifting heavy equipment or tools. Work activities require considerable walking, standing, and stooping on concrete and climbing stairways and ladders and catwalks. The incumbent regularly lifts objects weighing up to 75 pounds with proper support. Working Conditions Work is accomplished both inside and outside in all kinds of weather. Work is performed in areas that include equipment that is in continual operation, abnormal noise levels, and poor ventilation. The work involves exposure to infection, mechanical injury, gas, cuts, bruises, fumes, dirt, and grease. Safety equipment must be used when required. The incumbent may be required to frequently wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, eye and ear protection, boots, gloves, and coveralls when working in any of the laboratories. PPE provides necessary protection against biological and chemical hazards but may increase the risk of accidents due to decreased vision, hampered communication, limited mobility, and dexterity. Physical well-being may be compromised by the prolonged usage of the PPE may lead to labored respiration, heat stress and dehydration. The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations. 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 without any skin condition is required; 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 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; or inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment. Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness (or unfit) for duty determination 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 NBAF 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 livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Biological Safety Regulations specify a personal quarantine for employees working in BSL-3, 3 enhanced, 3Ag and 4 biocontainment. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering the BSL-3 or higher biocontainment facilities at NBAF shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving bio-containment. Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine. Contact with horses, birds (agricultural and pet birds) and rabbits are normally permitted, but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near contagious agents affecting these species. Restricted livestock or other restricted animals may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where the quarantine cannot be enforced.

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: Sydney Teague
• Phone: 703-259-9455
• Email: [email protected]