Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Building Automation Specialist Technician

Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located within the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL), U.S.National Poultry Research Center, in Athens,Georgia.

The incumbent provides on-site planning, installation, maintenance,and overall operations of building automation control systems; work with maintenance technicians, engineers, scientists, facility managers, and Biosafety Personnel to ensure the operations and maintenance of facility.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/23/2020 to 10/13/2020
Salary
$55,738 to - $87,667 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Athens, GA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
ARS-S20Y-10915756-ABS
Control number
579499000

Duties

Help
  • Consults with control specialists, technicians, and management in order to troubleshoot and solve building system problems and work on complex building automation systems to control and maximize SEPRL resources.
  • Integrates, programs, documents and controls existing building automation systems. This includes designing and verifying proper installation, operation, and calibration of building control devices.
  • Makes modifications or adjustments to building automation systems controls such as repositioning, calibrating, or adding sensors or modification of set points and schedules in accordance with guidelines.
  • Performs meter testing, addressing, and calibration which involves advanced metering devices to ensure proper function and reporting.
  • Provides remote technical support and course of action for HVAC-R system issues and dispatches maintenance personnel to resolve mechanical problems.
  • Keeps abreast of new technology, enforcement and programs involving building automation systems.
  • Consults and collaborates with trades people and engineers on technical issues to ensure that maintenance and installations are planned efficiently and implemented effectively.
  • Operates and maintains building automation systems in order to ensure ongoing and effective systems operations.
  • Uses software applications such as Microsoft Office, Siemens Apogee, SQL database designs, LAN/WAN, BacNet direct digital control systems, and LonTalk/LonWorks.

Requirements

Help

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.
  • 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance is required.
  • Immunizations may be required.
  • Respirator fitting and certification is required.
  • Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
  • SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
  • Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

At the GS-09:
Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience assisting with installing and maintaining building automation control systems; assisting with troubleshooting problems with building automation systems; and participating in providing technical support to staff in regards to building automation systems.

OR

Education: master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Related degrees must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform job.

OR

A combination of specialized experience and education.

At the GS-11:
Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience serving as a focal point for building automation systems to include laboratory equipment monitoring systems, providing technical expertise for building automation systems, or direct digital control (DDC) systems, National Electric Code (NFC), or National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) codes; installing and maintaining building automation control systems; troubleshooting problems with building automation systems; and providing technical support to staff in regards to building automation systems.

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related to the position. Related degrees must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform job.

OR

A combination of specialized experience and education.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Administration and Management
  • Facilities Engineering
  • Safety Engineering


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10915756

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.