Utility Systems Repairer Operator

About the role

This position is located at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area (PA), National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), in Manhattan, KS.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a wastewater treatment plant Tier one operator responsible for the total operation of the plant including pretreatment, and primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment.
• Operates a Wastewater Treatment Plant which provides the full range of treatment, including meeting National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) permit conditions.
• Operates a variety of pumps, valves, gates, feeders, flocculates, clarifies, filters, and other controls and equipment to move waterborne domestic and industrial waste through various stages of treatment.
• Performs tertiary operation functions, utilizing equipment: chemical mixing tanks/feeding pumps; flocculation tanks w/ flocculators; chemical feeders for dry feeding of polymer; ferric chloride; sulfur dioxide; sulfuric acid; lime/gravity sand filter.
• Regulates and controls chemical treatment processes, tests and analyzes sewage and sludge at prescribed points.
• Operates, repairs, maintains, and monitors according to prescribed methods a bank of multiple mechanically fired, gas and oil-fueled, Scotch Marine boilers.

Requirements

Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement:

• Qualifications will be determined under the Job Element Rating System X-118C, Qualifications Standard Handbook.
• The responses to the questionnaire and your resume should be in significant detail to provide the person rating your application with a good understanding of your ability to do the job, technical knowledge, work, and training experience, etc.

Physical Effort

The incumbent frequently works in strained positions while cleaning equipment or lifting heavy equipment or tools. Work activities require considerable walking, standing on concrete and climbing stairways and ladders and catwalks. The incumbent regularly lifts objects weighing 45-50 pounds and occasionally heavier weights with proper support.

Working Conditions

• Work is accomplished both inside and outside in all kinds of weather.
• Work sometimes requires exposure to running motors, pumps and machinery, loud noises, and poor ventilation.
• The incumbent is exposed to chlorine, sulfuric acid, methane gas, sulfur dioxide, bacteria, and occasionally unpleasant odors and fumes.
• Complete protective clothing including acid resistant gloves and aprons, gas mask or full-face shield, and respirator are required when working with dangerous chemicals.
• Frequent exposure to dirty and greasy machinery.

Other Considerations

• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required
• Drug Test Required - Vaccine(s) Required

Special Physical Requirements/Demands

• SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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