This position is located within the Facilities Services Unit (FSU) of the United States National Arboretum (USNA), for USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Washington, DC. In this position, you will serve as Working Leader by passing along instructions, assigning tasks, and performing a variety of semi-skilled and manual labor tasks typically associated with routine facility repair/maintenance, grounds maintenance, and equipment maintenance.

Duties

Works unassisted in one or more of the skilled trade occupations while providing Crew/Team Leadership in the field. Makes minor routine repairs to buildings, greenhouses (including glazing), or temporary structures. Performs carpentry repairs for ancillary building structures and garden features, such as benches, bins, fences roof decking, screen doors, trellises, etc. Performs regular inspections of heating and cooling systems and other systems that achieve regulated climatic conditions such as boilers, chillers, compressors, air handlers and ventilators. Helps maintain lighting and electrical systems in all buildings, replacing or repairing defective switches, loose connections, damaged light fixtures, etc. Sets the work environment and works along with other workers, demonstrating proper work methods. Reports to the supervisor the status or progress of the work assigned and any causes for delays. Performs Quality Assurance checks on work while in progress and when completed to ensure that work instructions on sequence, procedures, methods and deadlines have been achieved. Performs routine maintenance of various heating and air conditioning equipment including pressurized steam and hot water boilers, greenhouse cooling equipment, growth chambers, freezers, and weatherizing facilities. Operates a variety of construction and farm equipment including small and heavy-duty tractors, forklifts, chippers or shredders, mowers, skid-steers, dump trucks, trailers, vacuum trucks, etc.

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/
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands.
• Incumbent is an exigency employee for extreme weather and emergency situations and subject to call-back situations.
• Incumbent is an excepted employee expected to work part-time or full-time during Federal funding lapses pending supervisor notification and excepted memo.
• The incumbent will occasionally be required to adjust an 8-hour workday schedule (between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.) to accomplish seasonal duties such as ice/snow removal; to receive deliveries; or to accommodate local contractors.
• The incumbent may work overtime hours as required.
• Safety and Health – The incumbent performs duties in a supportive manner of a safe and healthy work environment and uses appropriate ergonomic principles for healthy office work.
• The incumbent applies knowledge of and adheres to Departmental civil rights policies, goals, and objectives, with a philosophy of valuing diversity in performing everyday duties and responsibilities.
• The incumbent contributes to a productive and nondiscriminatory work environment through written and oral communications and interpersonal relations.

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: 10/11/2024. 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 Worker 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 The work requires standing, walking, and sitting. Considerable physical effort is used when working on parts or systems that are in hard-to-reach places. Work requires bending, stooping, kneeling, and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions when using hand tools, shop tools, and equipment. The incumbent may carry parts and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. The incumbent may perform repairs and installations from ladders, platforms and scaffolding, in uncomfortable positions, both indoors and outdoors in field laboratories and greenhouses. Working Conditions Work is performed in offices, greenhouses, laboratories, growth chambers, cold rooms, and under field conditions. Although most work is performed under ambient weather conditions, outdoor work is sometimes performed under adverse weather conditions, including hot, cold, wet, or windy weather. Outdoor work may expose the incumbent to hot sun and, in summer, high humidity and temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in greenhouses. The incumbent may work under adverse conditions in emergencies. The incumbent works from ladders, scaffolds, or platforms or in bent or cramped positions around boilers, pipes, and frequent noisy machinery. There is some risk of minor injuries, electrical shock, bumps, bruises, cuts, scratches, and/or insect bites when performing tasks. Incumbent must follow safety regulations and take prescribed precautions in the use of all equipment, hand tools, and solvents/chemicals potentially hazardous to human health. The incumbent must use safety equipment such as personal protective equipment, hard hats, and hard-toed shoes to avoid injury and possible hazards in the work areas and personal protective equipment must be maintained and used appropriately. 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 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Robert Green
• Phone: (703) 259-9392
• Email: [email protected]