Maintenance Mechanic

Summary

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Vian, Oklahoma.

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Duties

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Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Maintain and operate water control structures.
• Install and repair barbed wire fences and gates, and post and maintain boundary and entrance signs.
• Operate and adjust pumps, dams, water control structures and water flow rates.
• Measure, monitor and document all water use and levels, control structures, wells, and pumps.
• Perform building and facility maintenance by troubleshooting and repairing electrical, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, masonry, and heating and cooling systems.
• Maintain and repair vehicles, heavy equipment, and small engines by diagnosing issues, replacing parts, and completing preventive maintenance. Operate heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, graders, and loaders to support land management, road work, and construction projects. Train and mentor employees and volunteers while ensuring safe work practices and proper use of tools, equipment, and protective gear.
• Maintain accurate maintenance and equipment records by updating logs and entering data into approved systems.

Physical Effort/Demands

Considerable physical effort is required in the operation and maintenance of facilities, equipment, and attachments. Considerable energy is needed working in small confined spaces or elevated areas, and operating equipment over rough surfaces. Location of the tools and controls/attachments frequently requires working in awkward or strained positions. Requires occasional lifting or handling of objects or materials up to 50-100 pounds, unassisted, following proper lifting procedures to avoid injury. Frequently required to stand while working, climb ladders or scaffolding, and bend, stoop, climb, and work in awkward positions. This requires standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing and working in tiring and cramped positions.

Working Conditions

Work is accomplished both in an office setting (5%) and outdoors (95%). Works outside in all kinds of weather and frequently exposed to running water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, falling from ladders or scaffolding, electricity, and moving parts of equipment and machinery. Work performed outside is in a variety of settings where steep terrain, extremely uneven, rocky and slippery footing is normal. Temperature extremes are common. Incumbent may also be exposed to energized circuits, electrical shock, burns, electrical rotary devices, cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and burns from chemicals. Work is regularly exposed to the possibility of bites, cuts, scrapes, bruises, falls, falling material, or injury from equipment associated with power equipment or hazardous materials. Work demands conformance to safety requirements including the use of a variety of personal protective equipment in adherence to applicable laws, rules, and regulations, such as: protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, steel toe heavy leather boots, respirator, and other personal protective items. Serious injury may result from getting caught in operating equipment, or from collisions with automobiles when operating on or near public roads.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid Class A commercial Driver's License (CDL) throughout employment in this position. Applicants must provide proof of possession of CDL by closing date of this announcement.
• Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive test is received.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You must be at least 21 years of age or older to operate government vehicles having a gross weight (GBW) rating of more than 26,000 pounds.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

1. Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision (SCREEN OUT)
2. Vehicle Operation (SCREEN OUT)
3. Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.
4. Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
5. Knowledge of Materials
6. Use of Measuring Instruments
7. Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
8. Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position.

Volunteer Experience: 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, knowledge, and skills 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

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

You may be required to obtain and maintain an Oklahoma pesticide applicator's license after employment begins.

You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630).

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here,

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.

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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.