Custodial Worker Leader

Summary

This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Plains Area (PA), National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).

In this position, you will serve as a working leader for the staff responsible for performing the full range of custodial duties.

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Duties

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• Works with the Maintenance Mechanic Supervisor of the Facilities Service Group and the other supervisors of the Group in the coordination of activities.
• Provides instructions to workers, assigns tasks to be performed, and in absence of supervisory instructions, addresses priority situations.
• Works with staff and sets pace, demonstrating proper work methods.
• Ensures plans, materials, tools and supplies are available.
• Resolves problems as they arise and, when required, obtains addition information or decisions from supervisor.
• Provides information and answers questions on procedures, policies, written instructions, and other directives. In addition, provides training to staff.
• Ensures all offices, corridors, stairways, fairways, cafeteria and other areas are cleaned.
• Works with the staff in adjusting, cleaning, oiling, changing of brushes, rollers, buffers, and other attachments on cleaning machines.
• Observes and ensures all staff is aware of safety and housekeeping rules and the proper use of personal protective equipment.
• Ensures adherence by the staff to the conduct, safety, fire, care of equipment, housekeeping rules and regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• 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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• 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
• Drug Test Required.
• Vaccine(s) Required.
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands.
• SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
• Immunizations may be required.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement:

07/14/2026Qualifications 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, Custodial Worker Leaderwithout more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration.

Physical Effort:

The incumbent operates and controls floor maintenance machines; moves and controls moderately heavy equipment; and carries, sets up, and works from ladders. Work requires frequently lifting and moving objects weighing 40 and occasionally 50 pounds with appropriate support. In addition, the work requires standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and moderate to heavy physical effort when mopping or moving furniture. The work also requires regularly shoveling snow off of walks. The work requires exposure to a large variety of cleaning agents.

Working Conditions:

Work is usually performed in offices, rest rooms/lavatories, common public areas and stairways, warehouses, and/or outdoor facilities. The work involves exposure to strong cleaning solutions, disagreeable odors, exposure to hot and cold conditions, high noise and vibration levels, and occasionally, harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents. There is a chance of minor injuries (cuts and bruises) and caution and adherence to instruction must be taken to avoid serious injuries when working from ladders and scaffolds and powered equipment. Protective devices such as gloves, goggles, face mask, or respirators and immunizations may be required.

The incumbent may be required to frequently wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, eye and ear protection, boots, gloves, and coveralls when working in any of the laboratories. PPE provides necessary protection against biological and chemical hazards, but may increase the risk of accidents due to decreased vision, hampered communication, limited mobility and dexterity. Physical well-being may be compromised by the prolonged usage of the PPE may lead to labored respiration, heat stress and dehydration.

The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests 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.

For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied which are transmissible to humans may be required.

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.

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 NBAF 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 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.

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.
• 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.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• Note : Federal custodial work is considered a restricted position under U.S. law, meaning competitive hiring for certain custodial roles is limited to preference eligibles as long as a preference-eligible candidate is available. As such non veterans may not be referred for selection until the list of preference eligibles is exhausted.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.