This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Area (SEA), at the US National Poultry Research Center, in Athens, GA. In this position, you will dismantle and replace a variety of air-conditioning, heating, and refrigeration units including window and central air-conditioners, exhaust fans, temperature control chambers, boilers, laboratory refrigerators, freezers, and walk-in coolers in a research and office environment.

Duties

Performs a broad range of maintenance, repair, and operation functions on utility systems. Purchases and mixes chemicals for proper operation of the cooling system and closed heated and chilled water systems. Takes appropriate steps to correct problems and safeguard the integrity of the facilities. Maintain and service an automatic, electronically operated, and computer-controlled heating, cooling, and ventilating system.

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 https://www.e-verify.gov/
• The incumbent must obtain and maintain a valid State driver’s license.

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: 05/20/2024 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 Maintenance Mechanic (HVAC) 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 hearing and walking coordination, prolonged periods of standing on a concrete floor; climbing, bending, reaching, and working in cramped positions or crowded areas; and may require lifting equipment or material weighing up to 75 pounds. The incumbent may perform repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, platforms, and other hard-to-reach places both indoors and outdoors. The incumbent may work overtime hours as required. Working Conditions Duties are performed inside heated buildings but may require work on equipment in or on roofs of outlying buildings in inclement weather for short periods of time and wearing full face respirators when working in biological control areas. Restricted facial hair may be imposed by the supervisor for proper use of personal protective equipment. The incumbent may also be exposed to dirt, dust, drafts, high noise levels, and fumes and the possibility of injuries such as scrapes, cuts, chemical irritations, bruises and falls. The incumbent must follow prescribed safety practices to avoid injury and possible hazards in the work areas. Other Considerations This position is scheduled to work Monday through Friday on a daytime schedule; however, may be required to work a non-standard tour of duty and/or alternative work schedule because of extended coverage needed for certain conditions such as mission requirements, contract support, scheduled outages, etc. This is an essential position that requires reporting during times of emergency or inclement weather and may involve call-back situations or required work on weekends, evenings, holidays, or after hours when necessary during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when the Federal governments is closed due to inclement weather. To comply with USDA personnel security requirements and requirements of the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) for access to areas with Biological Select Agents and Toxins (BSAT), the incumbent must meet the following: Pre-employment and random testing of substance 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). Other Significant Factors 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 mission of SEPRL includes research, diagnosis, and training for poultry diseases foreign to the United States (U.S.) for the purpose of protecting American agriculture and domestic food sources from their potentially devastating effects. SEPRL is vital to successfully protecting U.S. agriculture from the intentional or non-intentional introduction of foreign animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease. The position supports the biocontainment facilities and may require entry into biosafety level (BSL) 3, 3 enhanced, and 3 Ag. 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 and; 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 biocontainment and the individual must still be able to shower out without assistance; Ability to follow instructions regarding decontamination and 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; 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 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Juliana Hensley
• Phone: (571) 669-3483
• Email: [email protected]