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Building Management Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)

Summary

This position is in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area (PA), National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), Facility Systems Division, Operations & Maintenance Branch, Building Automation Section (BAS), located in Manhattan, KS.

In this position, you will be on a team responsible for the 24-hour operation and maintenance of the building automation control systems (BAS) using Metasys for regulating room temperatures, pressure, and humidity.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$61,722 - $80,243 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
ARS-S27Y-13114958-JF
Control number
892826600

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Duties

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  • Participates in the overall automation operations of the buildings and equipment including monitoring, evaluating, and operating a variety of systems and reporting adequacy of services/systems provided.
  • Performs preventive maintenance (PM) and calibration of all BAS assets.
  • Assists in the optimization of HVAC and energy-management controls by performing system diagnostics and reporting conditions and information for recommended improvements.
  • Tunes, calibrates, and performs maintenance, repair and replacement of BAS system components.
  • Operates and maintains the building automation systems which involves using initiative, resourcefulness, and sound judgment in selecting from several alternatives to ensure on-going and effective systems operations.
  • Devises new ways to adapt existing equipment or current techniques to new uses.
  • Makes modifications or adjustments to standard building automation systems controls such as repositioning, calibrating, or adding sensors or modification of set points and schedules in accordance with ASHRAE or LEED guidelines.
  • Monitors data feeds from the various systems, adjusting as appropriate, diagnosing issues, and taking appropriate actions to ensure operational continuity.
  • Consults with trades people and engineers on technical issues to ensure that maintenance and installations are planned efficiently and implemented effectively.
  • Uses software applications including Microsoft Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Exchange, Metasys programming, SQL database design/manipulation, and LAN/WAN.

Requirements

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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.
  • 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may 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. 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.
  • The systems are monitored 24/7 for 365 days a year. The incumbent is required to work off-hour shifts including nights and weekends.
  • Ability to be on call during any emergencies.
  • Operates location vehicles in order to attend meetings and check buildings. The incumbent must have a valid driver's license.
  • The incumbent must have the ability to take a full-body shower with soap and shampoo one or more times per day without assistance. The incumbent must not have a skin condition which would prevent daily showering. Jewelry of any kind is not permitted inside containment.

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: 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 operating and maintaining building automation control systems; troubleshooting problems with building automation systems; and optimizing systems related to heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) controls, security, lighting, or energy management.
OR
Education:
Successful completion of a 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 include Building Automation Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Facility Management.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.

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.

Physical Demands:
The majority of time is spent focusing on data feeds, performing routine maintenance, repairs and inspections. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, bending, walking over uneven surfaces; stooping, reaching, climbing ladders, crawling and similar activities. In addition, the work requires an average degree of dexterity and strength with the movement and placement of equipment and objects (up to 50 pounds with support). The incumbent engages in performing systems inspections of various types including general offices, laboratories and animal facilities.

Work Environment:
The work is performed in offices, laboratories, attics, mechanical and electrical rooms, and IT closets. Exposure to dust, strong odors, fumes, chemical or exhaust, risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents are possible and require special safety precautions and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Use of protective equipment, such as respirators, disposable personal protective clothing, and eye protection, may be required. Immunization against a number of disease agents may be required. A degree of potential risk is involved due to biohazard laboratories. High levels of noise and vibration, grease, electrical hazards, moving parts of machinery or outdoor conditions involving exposure to hot/cold weather. The environment requires staying alert and taking special safety precautions including wearing of special protective clothing like hard hat, gloves and safety shoes.

Other Considerations:

  • Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
  • Drug Test Required.
  • SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
  • Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
  • This is an essential/emergency position; the incumbent is required to report to duty during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when the Government is closed due to inclement weather or budget cut off.
  • National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance is required.
Working in a high containment laboratory poses some degree of risk to human health. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of diseases, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans is required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and effectiveness under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392.

Investigational vaccines are those approved for human testing while they continue gathering additional safety and efficacy data in advance of full approval for commercial release. While immunization with FDA investigational vaccines is strongly encouraged, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary. Individuals who are already vaccinated or do not wish to receive the investigational vaccines will be asked to sign a declination form, assuming the risk of working with the viruses without vaccination. See attached declination form.

Psychological and physical health are monitored as part of a person's review. For physical health monitoring, a baseline blood sample will be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facility. When enrolled in the serum monitoring program, in addition to physical and psychological examinations, the physical health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serological tests. Beyond regular monitoring programs, blood draws will be needed to monitor the specific medical surveillance examinations.

Risk is reduced but cannot be eliminated with special safety precautions. Use of Safety protocols and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as respirators, disposable personal protective clothing, and eye protection, are used as needed. PPE is dependent upon the work performed and the laboratory space in which the work is performed.

The incumbent is required to wear tight-fitting respirator when working in biological control areas; facial hair restrictions are to comply with proper operation of personal protective equipment. Approval to use a respirator requires a medical evaluation and fit test.

Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Select Agent Regulations specify a personal quarantine for the incumbent entering biocontainment. As a condition of employment, all personnel entering biocontainment facilities at NBAF must not be in contact with specific susceptible animals for a period of five (5) days after leaving biocontainment. Currently, restricted species include 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 animal may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where quarantine cannot be enforced. Incumbents who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or may be subject to other disciplinary action.

Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness (or unfit) for duty determinations will be indicated. As required, periodic fitness for duty physicals will be scheduled. In addition, medical clearance will be required if it becomes necessary to enter an area where an air purifying respirator or other respiratory protection is required.

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.
  • Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
  • Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. The final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at the 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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. This means you will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or 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:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13114958

Agricultural Research Service

Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. What we do matters in science and the world. For more information about Agricultural Research Service, go to https://www.ars.usda.gov/.

Agency contact information

Jared Foret
Phone
5716693619
Email
Jared.Foret@usda.gov
Address
Agricultural Research Service
2150 Centre Avenue
Building D, Suite 300
Fort Collins, CO 80526
US

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