Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to U.S. Citizen or National; and Career transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Videos

At the full performance level (WG-10) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Operation of agricultural tractors, skid steer, backhoe and other heavy equipment in support of maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitats, and regular maintenance of gravel road infrastructure.
• Preventative maintenance and repairs of tractors, skid steer, backhoe and other equipment such as sprayers, UTVs, light and heavy duty trucks, and equipment trailers.
• Work with staff and volunteers on a daily basis for the completion of wildlife habitat and visitor services related projects.
• Serves as the Collateral Duty Safety Officer for the four-refuge complex, to include annual safety inspections and routine maintenance and performance testing of safety equipment (e.g. fire extinguishers, smoke/CO2 detectors).
• Oversees projects where contractors are performing work on one of the Refuges and ensures all work is completed on time and in line with contract parameters while adhering to industry standards.
• Responsible for building and facility maintenance.
• Assists with fleet utilization, and purchasing, annual personal property inventories, and acting as Receiving Official for personal property.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) throughout employment in this position. Applicants must provide proof of possession of CDL by closing date of this announcement.
• Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive test is received.
• You must pass a pre-employment physical and reoccurring physical for arduous duty including clearances for wearing half-face and full-face respirators.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You must be at least 21 years of age or older to operate government vehicles having a gross weight (GVW) rating of more than 26,000 pounds.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 10 nights at a time. Travel is project based; periods of travel will be determined based on project needs.
• You must obtain and maintain Fall Protection and Rescue certifications (training will be provided).
• You must attend the following formal courses when schedule (training will be provided): Defensive Driving; Advanced First Aid; and CPR.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/02/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To qualify for this position, you must possess and maintain a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) at the time of application. You must submit proof of possession of your CDL when you apply. If you upload a copy of your CDL DO NOT include photographs. (SCREEN OUT)

In addition, to qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

1. Ability to do the work of an Engineering Equipment Operator without more than normal supervision (SCREEN OUT)
2. Operation of Motor Vehicles
3. Work Practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order)
4. Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
5. Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)
6. Ability to Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
7. Reliability and Dependability as an Engineering Equipment Operator

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position

• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job

• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:

• Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
• Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)
• Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
• Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
• Operation of Motor Vehicles
• Reliability and Dependability as a Engineer Equipment Operator
• Work Practices (including keeping things neat, clean, and in order)

If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, the agency will expand the group of candidates in accordance with the pre-announced supplement strategy and 5 CFR 332.402(f).

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.