Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement 26-36

1. Performs a variety of duties in support of scientific projects and facilities and maintenance of the Observatory’s buildings, infrastructure, grounds, and mountain road, including the following: 

• Painting:  Performs spray or brush painting of walls, ceilings, exterior of buildings, doors, window frames, siding, and trim.  Masks surfaces preparatory to painting.  Applies specialized coatings to roofs.

• Carpentry:  Performs rough or simple type carpentry in the repair and maintenance of buildings and related furnishings or structures.  Duties may include framing, box construction, and concrete forms, making minor repairs such as replacing broken boards, nailing down loose wall siding, and caulking doors and window sills.  

• Welding:  Welds parts used to repair such things as telescope structures, railings, or heavy equipment.  Depending upon proficiency, may assist other staff members who are highly specialized welders.

• Plumbing: Performs a variety of maintenance and repairs to the facility’s plumbing fixtures.  Repair faucets, drains and toilets.  Maintains waterless urinals. Utilizes specialized plumbing equipment to clean out sink/shower drains and pipes.

• Roofing: Performs maintenance tasks such as patching leaky roofs and repairing flashing, masonry and concrete.

2.  Works cooperatively with scientific and other support staff on a variety of modifications and repairs to telescope facilities.  This may include such tasks as repairing seams of a telescope, the telescope dome, or its rotation motor assembly. Assists Ridge Telescopes’ staff with changing telescope instruments.

3.  Operates heavy equipment such as forklifts, man lifts, front-end loaders, backhoes, cranes, etc. in open areas and on level, hilly and/or mountainous terrain to move earth, rocks, sand, stumps, and other equipment.  

4. Operates snowplows and sanders in winter weather on an unpaved mountain road. Transports optical and scientific equipment and liquid nitrogen Dewars required for telescope instruments’ operation from base camp to the summit.

5.  Performs a variety of routine tasks such as delivery and pick-up of light and heavy objects at the Administrative Complex and mountain facilities, fueling all types of vehicles and heavy equipment on the mountain, and performing minor servicing of all types of vehicles and heavy equipment.  Serves as an alternate driver for Tucson pick up of goods.

6.  Assists with cleaning debris and rocks from culverts (150) in the mountain road in cooperation with co-workers.  Removal of fallen rocks is frequently required subsequent to rainstorms and high winds.

7.  Participates in maintenance of grounds as required, including tree trimming, weeding, and grass cutting on the mountain road or at the administrative complex.

8.  Performs other related maintenance duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• Pre- and post-appointment background investigation required.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds for salary payments
• Use of respirator and annual respirator fit testing and training required.

An annual respirator fit testing and training is required.

Heavy physical effort will be required in constantly reaching, bending, turning and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate tools, equipment, and vehicles. Due to the nature of some duties, the incumbent is required to work in awkward positions, on ladders and scaffolds, and will handle objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Working Conditions: Duties at the Ridge telescopes and on other areas of the mountain are recurring.  The environment can be extreme, and range from dry heat to bitter cold.  Travel to the Ridge or higher over a mountain road an be hazardous, and involve exposure to snow and rain, lightning, and flash floods.

Qualifications

Your overall experience and training must indicate that you have the minimum knowledge, skills, abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. There is no substitution of education for experience for this position. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Additional information on the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations can be found on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/index.html.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will first be evaluated to determine whether the following screen out element is met:

Ability to perform the work of a maintenance worker with minimal supervision (screen-out).

If an applicant meets the screen-out element, the following Job Elements will be evaluated

• Ability to operate and make minor repairs to a variety of motor vehicles and heavy equipment.  

• Skill in performing maintenance and repairs in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, roofing, and metalwork (welding).

• Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.

• Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (includes blueprinting reading).

• Knowledge of the technical practices of trade work (theoretical, precise).

Applicants who meet or exceed the screen-out element will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

Best Category - Meets the screen-out element and excels in most of the job related elements above.

Better Category - Meets the screen-out element and satisfies most of the job related elements above.

Good Category - Meets the screen-out element, but does not satisfy most of the job related elements above to a substantive degree.   

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-veterans within each category.  A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no veteran in that category is passed over to select a non-veteran in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.

Veterans who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the announcement questions will not be considered for this position.  

Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience.

Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.