Maintenance Mechanic

Summary

This position is a Maintainance Mechanic, WG-4749-09 working with the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 8, Hopper Moutain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This position will be located at one of the following duty locations:

Ventura, CA or Maricopa, CA

Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

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Duties

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As a Maintenance Mechanic (WG-09) your duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Completes repairs, troubleshooting, testing that can be accomplished by removing, replacing, tightening, splicing, soldering, and insulating defective wiring, controls, equipment, and fixtures such as broken and bare wiring, burned out switches and relays, loose connections and fittings, damaged light fixtures, and poorly operating thermostats.
• Operates a variety of farm-type tractors with towed or attached equipment on steep hills or rough terrain where there is significant danger of overturning the tractor or equipment. Work includes contour plowing, planting on steep hills, mowing, levee maintenance, trail maintenance, farming, planting, cultivation, and construction, and other related activities.
• Conducts maintenance on motor vehicles replace sensors, water pumps, spark plugs, brake shoes, mufflers, radiator caps, condensers, engine gaskets, a variety of belts and hoses, and complete assemblies such as removing old engines and replacing them with new engines.
• Perform repairs on heavy equipment and machinery such as removing, adjusting, or replacing defective or worn parts and components; or assisting in disassembling, repairing, and assembling major systems, components, and operating mechanisms.
• Conducts maintenance on motor vehicles replace sensors, water pumps, spark plugs, brake shoes, mufflers, radiator caps, condensers, engine gaskets, a variety of belts and hoses, and complete assemblies such as removing old engines and replacing them with new engines. Clean or replace filters, screens, battery cables and clamps, engine components, and heating and cooling devices. In addition, service and check air conditioning systems including purging and recharging systems, flushing radiators and replacing anti-freeze solutions, and aligning front ends of cars and trucks.

Physical Effort: 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.

Work 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. 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.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• 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 have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

By the closing date of this announcement, you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation.

Although no specific amount of experience, education or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level, and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements. Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements.The screen out element for this position is the ability to perform the work of a Tractor Operator without more than normal supervision. This experience may include: 1) operate a variety of heavy equipment (e.g., agricultural tractor with implements, excavator, wheeled loader, skid steer, backhoe, road grader, bulldozer, dump truck, etc.) in close quarters or challenging field conditions as required; 2) tune-up, adjust and repair vehicles, heavy equipment and building systems (e.g., heating, refrigeration, HVAC, etc.); and 3) use electrical, mechanical, carpentry, plumbing, welding, painting, or other trades skills to maintain, repair or construct a variety of buildings, structures, systems or equipment.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following Job Elements:

• Vehicle Operation
• Ability to use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Vehicle Maintainance
• Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
• Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision
• Knowledge or equipment assembly, installation, repair, etc.

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. 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.

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

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position. Weekend work maybe required as needed.

Travel: This position requires 75% or less travel depending on duty station. This position is responsible for maintenance of facilities, roads, vehicle fleet and heavy equipment on four Refuges spread hours apart.

If selected for Ventura, CA travel could be greater than 75%.

If selected for Maricopa, CA travel could be 50% or less.

PCS: Reimbursement expenses are not authorized for this position.

Telework : This position is no suitable for telework.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP or ICTAP applicants must be determined to be well-qualified for this position in order to receive special selection priority. To be well-qualified, a CTAP or ICTAP applicant must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least 85 on the questionnaire For more information visit: OPM's Employee Guide to Career Transition

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.