Electrical Worker

Summary

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

In this position, you will work in facilities and install, modify, repair, maintain, test, and load new and existing electrical distribution systems, equipment and their components.

The closing date of this announcement has been extended to July 6, 2026 due to the Fourth of July holiday.

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Duties

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• Locates broken, worn, damaged, or poorly operating wiring, fixtures, controls and equipment.
• Installs, modifies, repairs, maintains, tests, and loads new and existing electrical distribution systems, equipment and their components.
• Completes needed repairs to installed systems and rearranges and hooks up items such as outlets, switches, light fixtures, regulators, and circuit breakers.
• Uses hand tools or portable power tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wire-cutters, strippers, drills, soldering irons, and manual or power conduit benders and threaders.
• Troubleshoots malfunctioning equipment, distribution circuits and controlling equipment to locate and correct the cause of outages and improper operation.

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
• Motor vehicle or commercial driver's license required.
• Drug test required.
• Vaccine(s) required.
• Special physical requirements/demands.
• SAC and full background investigation required.
• Department of Justice Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
• National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance is required.
• Immunizations may be required.
• Respirator fitting and certification are required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement: 07/06/2026 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, Electrical Workerwithout more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration.

Working Conditions

Incumbent is exposed to varying abnormal temperatures and conditions, both indoors and outside buildings. The incumbent works in areas where equipment is in continual operation, and noise levels are abnormal and odors prevail. The incumbent is subject to infection, mechanical injury, gas, cuts, bruises, fumes, dirt and grease. Work requires changes to clothing provided by NBAF while at work duty station. Work may require to showering prior to reporting to duty station in accordance with entrance/exit safety protocols for specific areas of the center. The incumbent must use safety equipment including hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, lock out tag out (LOTO), arc flash clothes and other protective items. The incumbent must wear a full face respirator when working in biological control areas; and restrictions of facial hair may be imposed for proper use of personal protective equipment. Discomfort may occur when wearing protective clothing, gloves, and eye goggles. May be called-in on nights and weekends for emergency repairs and operations.

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.

Working in a high containment laboratory poses some degree of risk to human health. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of diseases, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans is required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and effectiveness under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392.

Ongoing Health Status Monitoring

Psychological and physical health are monitored as part of a person review. For physical health monitoring, a baseline blood sample will be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facility. When enrolled in the serum monitoring program, in addition to physical and psychological examinations, the physical health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serological tests. Beyond regular monitoring programs, blood draws will be needed to monitor the specific medical surveillance examinations.

Personal Protective Equipment

Risk is reduced but cannot be eliminated with special safety precautions. Use of Safety protocols and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as respirators, disposable personal protective clothing, and eye protection, are used as needed. PPE is dependent upon the work performed and the laboratory space in which the work is performed.

Decontamination/Body Requirements

The incumbent must have the ability to take a full-body shower with soap and shampoo one or more times per day without assistance. The incumbent must not have a skin condition which would prevent daily showering. Jewelry of any kind is not permitted inside containment.

Personal Recognizance Quarantine (PRQ)

Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Select Agent Regulations specify a personal quarantine for the incumbent entering biocontainment. As a condition of employment, all personnel entering biocontainment facilities at NBAF must not be in contact with specific susceptible animals for a period of five (5) days after leaving biocontainment. Currently, restricted species include 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.

Physical Effort

The work requires performing duties in utility spaces, on ladders and scaffolding and may operate a boom truck. Work requires close hand and eye coordination; active walking; prolonged periods of standing on concrete floors, climbing, bending, and reaching and working in cramped positions or crowed areas or confined spaces (manholes). The incumbent may be required to lift objects weighing up to 75 pounds with proper support

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.
• 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.

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.