Utility System Repair Operator

Summary

This position is located with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) in Laurel, MD. In this position, you will perform a variety of operations and functions relating to the adjustment, maintenance, repair, replacement, modification, and inspection of complex heating, ventilating, waste sterilization, emergency electrical generator, and air conditioning systems at NCAPP.

Duties

• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Operates, maintains, modifies, and repairs three boilers that supply 180-degree Fahrenheit water 24/7, throughout the entire facility.
• Monitors, adjusts, and controls phases of the boiler plant operation to achieve efficient combustion levels and compliance with air pollution laws or regulations.
• Troubleshoots and diagnoses malfunctioning heating systems and supporting components, determines nature and extent of repairs and makes adjustments and corrections as required.
• Performs regular preventive maintenance, diagnoses refrigeration malfunctions, and makes repairs to compressors, condensers, liquid line solenoid and expansion valves, coils, motors, belts, bearings, fans, filter-driers, and other auxiliary equipment
• Inspects and monitors the chiller operations, temperatures, and generated alarms on a daily basis, and records all data in the chiller logbook.
• Maintains the generator in a ready state mode in order to guarantee 24/7 emergency power transfer capability.
• Exercises all generators on a biweekly basis by bringing them up to operational conditions and making repairs or adjustments as needed to ensure optimal performance.
• Initiates the decontamination cycle and monitors the batch runs through the system, and records all pressures and temperatures and logs them in the waste sterilization log book.
• Operates, inspects, and maintains the BSL-3AG microwave wastewater sterilization system that was designed exclusively to perform pre-programmed thermal deactivation of biological waste, including Ag Select Agents.

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. To qualify for the WG-11 Grade Level, you must show you have had training and experience of sufficient scope and quality to provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Your resume MUST support the experience required for the grade level being appointed. Your resume must include this experience, being mindful that experience may not be inferred by job title. 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. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement. How You Will Be Evaluated

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies: Ability to do the work of a utility systems repairer-operator without more than normal supervision Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading) Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, repair, etc. Technical practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) Use of measuring instruments Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13078829 Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Worksite Information: This position is located at the duty station(s) listed in this vacancy announcement and is not eligible for telework or remote work. Subject to be on-call for emergencies, such as power outages, heating system breakdowns, chiller malfunctions, breach in containment of pathogens, and environmental growth chamber malfunctions, and must carry a cell phone when assigned on-call duty status. Subject to call-in during non-duty hours and may be required to work overtime to effect repairs or complete installation or maintenance of a system which cannot be worked on during normal working hours or is of an urgent priority nature. May be required to work fluctuating shifts, including overnight shifts, 12-hour shifts, weekend shifts, and evening shifts in various combinations. May be required to work weekends and holidays when necessary and may be required to report for duty during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when the government is closed due to inclement weather. May be required to operate a forklift occasionally to transfer equipment and materials. Will be required to submit to a background investigation at the Moderate Risk level due to the following conditions: The nature of the incumbent's work operating specialized mechanical systems that maintain the bio-containment and bio-security; and The incumbent's work inside the BSL-3AG facility around the growth rooms and greenhouse sections where research is being conducted on plant pathogens of high risk or Select Agents, outlined in the 7 CFR 331.