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Utility System Repairer Operator

Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The ideal candidate for this position will have skills in utilities operation and monitoring of industrial type equipment such as electrical switchgear, large commercial chillers and power control systems. This position starts at a salary of $30.43 (WG-10), with promotion potential to $33.62 (WG-12). Apply for this exciting opportunity to become a member of the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center (MWEOC) team within FEMA.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/08/2022 to 12/28/2022
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$30.43 to - $35.55 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 10
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Round Hill, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - This position may require minimal non-emergency travel up to 5%.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
FEMA-23-JD-601734-MP
Control number
693303200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Individuals who do not meet the requirements shown below may apply under FEMA-23-JD-601734-MP, which is open to the public. This Job is open to: Status Candidates; DRRA Eligibles; Former Overseas Employees; CTAP; ICTAP; VRA; VEOA; 30% Disabled; Schedule A; Military Spouses; Peace Corps; Americorps; Vista; Land/Base Management; Boren Awardees; and Interchange Agreement Eligibles.

Duties

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

When disaster strikes, America looks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Now FEMA looks to you. Join our team and use your talent to support Americans in their times of greatest need. FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. We foster innovation, reward performance and creativity, and provide challenges on a routine basis with a well-skilled, knowledgeable, high performance workforce. Please visit www.fema.gov for additional information.

In this position, you will  serve as a Utility System Repairer Operator, responsible for monitoring, operating and repairing site utility systems. Typical assignments include:

  • Monitoring a variety of systems using computer monitoring systems at a large, complex facility. Systems include electric power generation and distribution; uninterruptable power supplies; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; lighting and environmental building controls; drinking water plant and distribution; and waste-water treatment plant.
  • Monitoring alarms, diagnoses, and troubleshoots equipment alarms and malfunctions, takes corrective actions to address issues on remote equipment.
  • Monitoring and controlling the site primary electrical distribution system connecting numerous substations and switching stations, presenting many alternate routing possibilities, including commercial power and diesel back up power generating plant.
  • Operating a large, centralized, multiple zone system, and monitoring and operating multiple smaller independent systems, check temperature sensing points in the buildings, adjust controls, start, regulate, stop air handling equipment, and reset temperature controls and humidity controls.
  • Recognizing the cause of faulty equipment and making repairs on large systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering, and circulating.

Promotion Potential: Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. 

All MWEOC staff have emergency assignments and are considered deployed in place. Exercises and activations are planned and unplanned, and may require long hours, nights, weekends and holidays.

All MWEOC employees are: (1) required to use a government-issued electronic device (to include cellular phones); (2) subject to recall during emergency situations; and (3)  required to perform work in locations both above and below ground. 

EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENT: Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation.
  • Selective Service registration required.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government credit card.
  • Please review "Other Information" section for additional key requirements.

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo, successfully pass, and maintain a background investigation for a TOP SECRET clearance as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check after initial job qualifications are determined, a review of financial issues, such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs (please visit: Mythbuster on Federal Hiring Policies for additional information). For more information on background investigations for Federal jobs please visit OPM Investigations.

Please ensure you meet the qualification requirements described below.

Qualifications

The qualification requirements listed below must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standard. Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must meet any screen-out element listed, and show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time. 

Working Conditions: The work is usually performed indoors on concrete surfaces where there is exposure to dust, dirt, chemicals, heat, dampness, noise, and unpleasant odors. Incumbent also services equipment outdoors under adverse weather conditions. They are continually exposed to the potential for burns, electrical shocks, cuts, strains, bruises, and chemical irritations. To reduce dangers from these and other similar conditions, they follow prescribed safety practices and use safety equipment such as safety glasses, hard-toe shoes, respirators, hardhats, and fire-retardant gloves. Uncomfortable face masks and protective clothing may be occasionally worn when there is a possibility of exposure to toxic refrigerants. Mechanics are subject to large amounts of escaping gases when making emergency repairs. Exposure to repeated, prolonged or concentrated amounts of refrigerant gases may cause toxic effects to eyes, skin, and internal organs.

Physical Effort: Prolonged physical effort is not routine. Operators occasionally lift objects weighing up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Lifting equipment, such as chain hoists, is available to move heavier objects. Some standing, stooping, bending, and work on ladders (occasionally over operating equipment) is required.

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.

NOTE: Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. For a brief video on How to Create a Federal Resume, click here.

Current or former FEMA Reservists/DAE employees: To accurately credit your experience for these intermittent positions, make sure to list the dates (from MM/YY to MM/YY) of each deployment, along with the job title and specific duties you were responsible for during each deployment.  Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.  If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. 

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • This position has been identified as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) because of its security, public health, and/or public safety sensitivity, you are subject to random drug testing under FEMA's Drug-Free Workplace Plan (DWP). Refusal to be tested will result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. 
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
  • DHS uses E-verify, an internet based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
  • This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.
  • A one year probationary period is required for new Federal competitive service employees and new supervisors and managers.
  • If selected for this position, and you have not previously completed these requirements, you are subject to (1) completion of a 2 day onboarding program at your primary duty location; and, (2) completion of a subsequent, multiple day orientation program within 90-120 days of hire, at a location to be determined.  Travel associated with the orientation portion of this requirement may be at FEMA’s expense.
  • The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
  • Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).
  • Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
  • MEDICAL EXAMINATION: All selectees are required to pass a pre-employment medical examination provided at government expense. 
  • You are required to obtain and maintain a valid Universal Refrigerant license within on year of employment if selected for this position. 
  • This is a Bargaining Unit position.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies needed to perform this job:

SCREEN OUT FACTOR:

  1. Ability to do the work of a Utility System Repairer Operator without more than normal supervision.

JOB ELEMENTS:

  1. Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, repair, etc.
  2. Technical Practices
  3. Us of Measuring Instruments
  4. Ability to interpret instructions, specification, etc. (includes blueprint reading)
  5. Ability to Use and Maintain tools and Equipment
  6. Knowledge of Materials

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. 

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran’s preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures). View information on VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP/CTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP/CTAP eligibility on OPM’s Career Transition Resources website. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (see “Required Documents” section of this announcement). Well-Qualified is defined as those applicants who are rated with a minimum score of 85.00 for this position.

Interview Requirement.  Interviews may be required for this position.  Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.  


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

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