This position is located on the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Plains Area (PA), National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, Facilities Engineering located in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will serve as Project Engineer providing support to Senior Engineers in performing the broad technical functions of the Engineering and Project Management Branch.

Duties

Provides multi-disciplinary engineering resource and project support for facility operations including maintenance, repair, and construction of NBAF infrastructure for architectural, civil, electrical, and mechanical components. Provides support preparing, presenting, and evaluating plans, designs, reports and correspondence related to the engineering of complex facilities, utilities, roads, and grounds. Monitors and proposes solutions to inquiries about work order status, equipment maintenance history, trouble reports, and other preventive maintenance questions. Utilizes advanced engineering and project management computer programs to develop and review performance work statements, specification writing design drawings (AutoCAD and Revit), cost estimates, and using RS Means, etc. Modifies, adapts and refines broader guidelines supporting offices, shipping facilities, biocontainment (BSL-2, BSL-3E and BSL-4 laboratories, BSL3Ag and BSL4 animal housing, insectaries), wastewater pre-treatment plant, and a central utility plant. Serves as a project manager and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for all assigned projects. Provides technical oversight and direction of assigned projects by preparing, presenting, and evaluating plans, designs, reports and correspondence related to the engineering of complex facilities, utilities, roads, and grounds. Determines actions in coordination with the contracting office to manage projects from award through commissioning and close-out. Implements financial management and budget procedures to prepare financial estimates and budgets related to facilities and systems design and repair. Plans and prioritizes the sequence, direction, and progress of contracted work and often devises solutions and actions to resolve issues, conditions, and problems.

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 trial 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/
• Supervisory Responsibilities (EEO Statement).
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Drug Test Required.
• Financial Disclosure Required.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
• National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance is required.
• Immunizations may be required.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.
• SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
• A baseline blood sample may be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facilities (may not apply depending on the duties of the position).
• The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic test 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.

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. SEE EDUCATION SECTION FOR THE BASIC REQUIREMENT In addition to meeting the basic requirements as stated in the Education Section below, applicants must also meet the following additional qualification requirements. 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-09 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 performing work under senior engineers to manage projects and resources; developing technical feasibility and cost estimates for proposed minor construction projects; inspect construction sites to ensure compliance with contract requirements; and preparing technical reports and schedules for review. OR Education: Successful completion of three years of progressively higher graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees include Engineering, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture. OR An appropriate combination of specialized experience and Ph.D. level education directly related to the work of the position as stated above. GS-12: 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-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 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, planning, or analyzing costs for infrastructure improvements, evaluations of contractor proposals and projected costs; developing project estimates or preparing documents for procurement; creating, managing, and scheduling construction or repairs or service contract performance; and working on projects for biocontainment facilities and laboratories. Physical Demands: Physical activity includes entering confined spaces, climbing ladders, stooping, bending and lifting up to 50 pounds with appropriate help. Some work may involve wearing personal protective equipment, including a respirator (N-95 or PAPR) or fully encapsulated positive pressure suit while entering infectious disease laboratories or animal facilities areas. Travel is required to attend meetings and conference. Work Environment: 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 mission of NBAF includes research, diagnosis and training for animal diseases foreign to the United States (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 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. 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, 3 Ag 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 quarantine cannot be enforced. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary action. Additionally, an approved SRA investigation is required for access to select agent registered spaces. Incumbent may be required to receive extra vaccinations to work on specific projects, submit to blood tests, and a respiratory/pulmonary function test. 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

Basic Requirements:
Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at leastone program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
Combination of education and experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.)

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Jared Foret
• Phone: 7032599390
• Email: [email protected]