This position is located within the Biorisk Management Unit of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), for USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will provide subject matter expertise as part of a team inspecting and responding to issues related to the facilities associated with biocontainment.

Duties

Participates in various biosafety activities to ensure biocontainment units are in compliance with applicable regulations. Uses the Centralized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) which generates work tasks, work orders, and facility operational data. Participates in the collection, storage, and segregation of hazardous waste and biological waste, as required. Tests and certifies HVAC HEPA filters. Uses a variety of safety and industrial hygiene equipment such as, but not limited to, gaseous or vaporous decontamination agent generators, balometers, velometers, hygrometers, photometers, and manometers. Collects data and information to prepare operational status reports. Conducts biological monitoring and assays results as a quality control measure to determine effectiveness of sterilization or decontamination procedures.

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.
• Pesticide Applicators License may be required.
• Drug test required.
• Vaccines may be required.
• 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 are required.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.
• USDA/DOJ clearances are required for working with select agent programs as well as training that goes along with maintaining proficiency.
• National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance is required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-07 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience assisting in the inspection, preventative maintenance, testing, or repair of HVAC devices or their controllers, or effluent (sewage) decontamination system components or their controllers; or assisting in the sterilization and decontamination of contaminated equipment or rooms. OR Education: One full year of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include engineering, chemistry, or microbiology. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. GS-08 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in or independently performing operation, preventive maintenance, modification, repair, testing, or certification of containment systems including HVAC devices, Effluent Decontamination Systems (EDSs), HEPA filters or Biosafety Cabinets (BCSs); or performing sterilization or decontamination of equipment or rooms. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include engineering, chemistry, or microbiology. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. 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. Physical Demands: Work requires stooping, walking, climbing, working above shoulder height, or bending. In addition, the work requires an average degree of dexterity and strength with the movement and placement of equipment (up to 50 pounds with support). Some work may involve wearing of personal protective equipment, including a respirator (N-95 or PAPR), while entering infectious disease laboratories, engineering support areas, or animal facilities areas. Travel may be required. Work Conditions: The work is performed in an office, infectious diseases laboratories, indoor and outdoor animal holding facilities, necropsy rooms, and building mechanical spaces. Temperature extremes are common; exposure to disagreeable odors, working around frightened, unpredictable, and ill-natured animals; and exposure to the risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents are possible. Other hazards include electrical shock, working at heights, physical injury from tools and equipment, noise, and eye hazards, etc. Immunizations with vaccines may be required to enter facilities conducting work with human diseases. The incumbent is required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, disposable personal protective clothing, hearing protection, eye protection, boots, gloves, and coveralls. A degree of potential risk is involved due to biohazard laboratories. The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations. 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. Other Consideration 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.

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]