Carpenter

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), Manhattan, KS. In this position you will serve as the Carpenter responsible for maintaining, repairing and performing alterations of the facilities, working with wood, wood substitute materials, sheetrock, and other materials. Responsibilities Constructs, alters, repairs, and modifies buildings, structures, and fixtures working with wood, plywood, engineered lumber, wallboard, insulation, plastics, and metal laboratory equipment. Builds, modifies, repairs, and installs animal housing units, modules unit, plastic animal holding cages of various sizes and shapes and other requirements designed by laboratory personnel, shelves, cabinets, base units, shipping cartons, etc. Repairs and maintains items such as wood and metal including door locks, closures, hinges, weather-stripping, screens, sunscreens, ceiling tile, laboratory equipment, desks, files, safes, chairs, etc. Cuts, forms, glues, constructs plastic cages and fixture, and assembles specialty items for laboratory personnel and maintains, repairs and changes in design. Uses carpentry and plastic trades methods such as sawing, gluing, jigging, clamping, routing, filing, grinding, sanding, solvent gluing, planning, rabbeting, and other required methods. Sets up and operates industrial woodworking and related machinery such as routers, band and scroll saws, and drill presses. Interprets and applys building plans and blueprints. Plans, computes, and lays out projects, and performs complex and exact projects, such as arcs, circles, bevels, dados, miters. Uses electric and pneumatic band saws, circular table saws, planers, drill presses, jointers, plastic oven, plastic press, routers, portable drills and roto-hammers, plastic welder, hand tools, and other equipment and tools required in the trade. Completes job and shop-tickets, maintains equipment in the shop area and assures necessary shop supplies are on hand. Uses a large variety of materials such as lacquers, varnishes, epoxies, latex, enamels, flats, iothane, urethane, texturing materials and all types of thinners, retarders, catalyst, drying agents, etc. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement: 07/16/2026Qualifications 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, Carpenterwithout more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration. Working Conditions Incumbent usually performs work inside heated buildings, but may be required to work on equipment located outside of buildings and on top of roofs. When outside, work may be occasionally performed in all kinds of weather. The incumbent is subject to toxic fumes from adhesives and glues; cuts, bruises and dangers from flying plastic and wood splinters and chips from powered or hand tools; and falls when working on high places using ladders and scaffolds. 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. Physical Effort Incumbent performs work on benches, supports, ladders, scaffolds, roofs, in modules, around and under laboratory equipment which requires continuous standing, stooping, bending, climbing, and working overhead and in stretches cramped or awkward positions May be required to lift items up to 50 pounds with appropriate precautions and support. 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. The mission of NBAF includes research, diagnosis and training for animal diseases foreign to the U.S. for the purpose of protecting American agriculture and domestic food sources from their potentially devastating effects. NBAF is vital to successfully protecting U.S. agriculture from the intentional or non-intentional introduction of foreign animal diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth disease. The position supports the biocontainment facilities and may require entry into biosafety level (BSL) 3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and BSL-4 labs. The incumbent must demonstrate the physical and psychological capability to conduct normal duties that are appropriate to their position. 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.