UTILITY SYSTEMS REPAIRER OPERATOR

Summary This position is located within the Facilities Engineering Unit of the National Animal Disease Center, for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in Ames, IA. In this position, you will perform routine and nonroutine operation, maintenance, and repair of electrical, plumbing, boiler plant, chiller plant, and generator plant systems and components using maintenance and repair manuals pertinent to the equipment. Responsibilities Performs or assists in operations, repairs, maintenance and monitoring of a bank of multiple mechanically fire, gas and oil fueled water and fire tube boilers. Assists in the operation, repair, maintenance and monitoring of multiple banks of centrifugal and absorption chillers whose total capacity is 9,800 tons. Starts, stops and switches all heat-cooling and ventilating systems and their associated equipment in their proper sequence. Assists in testing and analyzing boiler water, feed water, condensate, chill water, heating water and cooling tower water using standard chemical tests, and determines the necessary treatment and chemicals to be used. Checks gauges for proper temperatures and air balances, plugged drains, malfunctioning freezers, control panels. Assists in operation and repair of 2, dual fuel turbines that produce 4,700 kw and multiple mechanical driven electric generators with a capacity of 15,000 kw located at multiple installations. Helps train lower-level employees in all phases of operation and repair. Assists in the operation and repair of air compressors, fire pumps, domestic water booster pumps, cooling towers, water softeners and associated pumps, valves, and actuators. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement : 11 / 04 / 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 Utility Systems Repairer Operator, 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 walking, prolonged periods of standing on concrete floors, climbing, bending, reaching and working in cramped positions or crowded areas. May be required to lift equipment or material weighing up to 75 lb. Working Conditions Duties are normally performed inside of heated buildings, but may be required for short periods of time to work on equipment in or on roofs of outlying buildings in inclement weather. Works in areas where equipment is in continual operation, where noise levels are abnormal and prevail. May be subject to infection, mechanical injury, gas, cuts, bruises, fumes, dirt and grease, possible exposure to contagious diseases, pathogens, and other environmental hazards within the laboratory or various spaces. Must wear appropriate safety equipment and comply with appropriate laboratory protocols. Required to wear full face respirator when working in biological control areas; facial hair restrictions may be required in order to comply with proper operation of personal protective equipment. Works on rotating shifts to ensure 24 hours Utility Plant coverage. 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. Additional 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. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees : Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information. This position is being concurrently announced under Delegated Examining Announcement Number ARS-S25Y-12570783-RG. This announcement is open to all qualified candidates. Applying to both announcements may expand the possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. This position is designated as a bargaining unit position and is represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).