These positions are located within the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area (PA), at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), in Manhattan, KS. In these positions, you will manage service, construction and repair projects to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of facilities in support of the scientific mission of NBAF in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Duties

Utilize knowledge of procurement and contracting procedures, construction inspection, and construction management, including contractual responsibilities and limits of authority. Implement practical knowledge of engineering procedures and techniques related to facilities repair, maintenance, and construction projects requiring technical engineering advice and support for NBAF Facilities. Serve as a Project Manager and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for a variety of contract requisitions. Develop scope of work statements and conduct investigations to provide information to management, project designers, or contracting officers regarding changes. Work with program staff to determine their needs and develop cost estimates and specifications for in-house repair and maintenance projects. Manage building service and maintenance contracts, including monitoring contractor performance, identifying service and maintenance tasks, and providing technical direction to the contractor. Implement oral and written communication practices to provide advice and guidance on equipment systems requirements and to write project reports. Conduct investigations to provide information to management, project designers, or contracting officers regarding changes.

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.
• Security risk assessment, SAC and full background investigation is required due to work in spaces where BSL-3 agents and select agents are stored or handled.
• Drug Test 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-11 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-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-10 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 providing technical engineering support in the construction, repair, and renovation of a facility (such as biocontainment, laboratory, or research facility); interpreting and reviewing facility designs, specifications, or drawings; composing or reviewing contracts for projects; managing construction, repair, service contracts, or contractor performance; and developing cost estimates for a variety of multiple-use construction projects. Physical Demands Less than one-third of the incumbents' time is sedentary. Field inspections of contractor work inside and outside NBAF buildings and facilities require walking over uneven and rough surfaces, entering confined spaces, climbing ladders, stooping, bending, and crawling in buildings and machine rooms in both cold and hot environments. Work Environment Work involves exposure to a variety of building and utility systems in research and laboratory facilities including entering into buildings and machine rooms that are both cold and hot environments, potential exposure to biological hazards, process piping, hazardous chemical fumes, electrical systems, construction machinery and sites, equipment noise and heights. Work may require wearing personal protective equipment such as protective clothing, boots, gloves, respirators, breathing devices, safety harness, and safety goggles. Other Considerations To comply with USDA personnel security requirements and requirements of the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) for access to information and areas with Biological Select Agents and Toxins (BSAT), including Tier One Select Agents at NBAF, the incumbent must meet the following: Pre-employment and random testing of substances of abuse. Participation in and adherence to the facility's Occupational Health Program. Participation in and adherence to the facility's Personal Reliability Program. The ability to obtain/maintain favorably adjudicated Background Investigations or Security clearances (required by USDA). The ability to obtain/maintain a favorable Security Risk Assessment (required by FSAP). This is a Public Trust Position and requires that the incumbent be a United States Citizen. As a condition of employment, the requirements listed above must be met. 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: The absence of any skin condition or other restriction which would prevent the employee from showering out of biocontainment one or more times per day. The ability to remove body piercings and external medical assist devices that must be removed prior to entry. External medical assist devices that 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. Absence of any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or coworkers, such as: Insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness. 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, biosafety protocols specify a personal quarantine for employees working on specific infectious agents in designated areas of NBAF. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering these areas 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 the area. 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 infectious 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. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary actions. 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.

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: Juliana Hensley
• Phone: (571) 669-3483
• Email: [email protected]