Engineering Equipment Operator.

Responsibilities

• Operate a variety of gasoline- or diesel-powered heavy engineering and construction equipment—such as bulldozers, excavators, road graders, skidsteers, and loaders—to perform earthmoving and grading tasks across varied terrain including flat areas, hills, steep slopes, grades, rolling surfaces, rocky or soft grounds, and forests.
• Operate motor vehicles—such as truck-and-trailer combinations, platform trucks, fuel trucks, stake trucks, and dump trucks—typically exceeding 32,000 lbs GVW, to transport equipment and materials safely across project sites.
• Operate heavy equipment safely and precisely near buildings, towers, trees, drop-offs, waterlines, vertical drop-offs, rocks, levees, dams, canals, and other structural or natural obstacles.
• Operate crawler tractors and similar equipment on flat or rolling terrain to grade surfaces, compact soils, and/or spread surfacing materials to exact specifications.
• Conduct disking, chopping, mowing, rototilling, digging, loading, and rough-grade leveling to support ditch cleaning, culvert installation, and various other purposes.
• Perform preventive maintenance, inspections, servicing, and minor repairs on heavy equipment, construction equipment, and/or motor vehicles, maintaining accurate logbooks and records in the approved system.
• Adjust equipment attachments for proper position, level, angle, and depth while equipment remains in motion, without stopping the power unit.
• Use electrical, mechanical, carpentry, plumbing, welding, painting, or other trades skills to maintain, repair, or construct a variety of buildings or structures and items such as signs, fences, and frames.

Physical Effort

Very strenuous heavy physical effort is required in the operation and frequent adjustment of large pieces of equipment and attachments, often under adverse operating conditions. Location of the controls and attachments frequently requires work in awkward or strained positions. Additional physical requirements may include facility maintenance tasks involving ladders, confined spaces, lifting, stooping, bending, and twisting. Considerable energy is needed working in small confined spaces or elevated areas, and operating equipment over rough surfaces. Work normally requires extensive standing, walking, kneeling, and bending. Lifts, carries, and sets up parts, equipment, and objects or loads up to 50 pounds unassisted, and up to 100 pounds with assistance.

Working Conditions

Work is accomplished both in an office setting (5%) and outdoors (95%). Due to operations of large and complicated equipment, often in rough terrain, the operator is exposed to injury resulting from equipment overturning, and is subject to noise, vibration, dust, fumes, grease, dirt, and moving parts of equipment and machinery. Work performed outside is in a variety of settings where steep terrain, extremely uneven, rocky, and slippery footing is normal. Temperature extremes are common. Employee is regularly exposed to the possibility of shock, cuts, scrapes, bruises, falls, falling material, or injury from equipment associated with power equipment or hazardous materials. Work demands conformance to safety requirements including the use of personal protective equipment such as: protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, steel toe heavy leather boots, respirators, and other protective items. Serious injury may result from getting caught in operating equipment or from collisions with automobiles when operating on or near public roads.

Requirements

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• 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.
• 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.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A endorsement.
• Required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. Must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period during which fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

Qualifications

Although no specific amount of experience, education, or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified, candidates must meet any screen-out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all elements. Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

The screen-out element for this position is: Ability to do the work of an Engineering Equipment Operator without more than normal supervision.

Qualifications will be evaluated on the following job elements:

• Operation of Motor Vehicles.
• Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc.
• Work Practices (Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.).
• Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment.
• Ability To Drive Safely.

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 specifically prepared you for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. Address your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors. Volunteer experience, including work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social), will be considered.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

Additional Information

This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. The local commuting area for this position is approximately 50 miles or 60 minutes from Corvallis, Oregon, for the R1-Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex duty station. You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g., mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy).

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions.

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means meeting OPM qualification standards, all selective placement factors, special qualifying conditions, and being physically qualified with reasonable accommodation to perform the duties upon entry.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.