Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), United States Botanic Garden (USBG), Operations Division. The incumbent performs journey-level Maintenance Mechanic duties in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical, carpentry, plumbing/pipefitting boiler plant maintenance and various support work throughout the USBG.

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Responsibilities

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is a living plant museum that informs visitors about the importance, and often irreplaceable value, of plants to the well-being of humans and to earth's fragile ecosystems. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. Since 1934, it has been administered through the Architect of the Capitol . The Garden has been recognized as a museum and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This accreditation is a widely recognized seal of approval that recognizes a museum's commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.

** This position is essential. The selectee will be required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather situations. Tour of duty may include holidays and weekends on a regular or recurring basis. Rotating shift work may also be required at management's discretion.

Duties quoted below are for the WG-10 grade level.

Major Duties Include:

HVAC

Maintains, troubleshoots and corrects HVAC and facility systems by using numerous testing techniques and test equipment. Locates sources of trouble, whether in the controls or equipment itself and determines the nature and extent of repairs or adjustments needed.

Independently installs, operates and maintains a wide variety of HVAC systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning functions such as heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, cleaning, filtering and circulating air. Assignments include large projects with complex problems and with extensive repairs requiring judgments, e.g., frequent and difficult determinations concerning the location of faulty equipment and the kinds and types of repairs needed to balance and repair the systems.

Electrical Monitoring and Equipment

Responsible for correcting electrical control and monitoring systems and equipment. Tests systems for correct conditions. Dismantles electrical-mechanical systems to diagnose malfunctions and effect necessary repairs. Executes installation and maintains existing electrical systems. Removes and fixes electrical or electronic malfunctions such as relay systems, interface devices and analog/digital controls.

Plumbing/Pipefitting Systems

Assembles, connects and fixes pipes, fittings and fixtures of steam heating, water according to specifications and plumbing codes. Installs, alters, troubleshoots, repairs, maintains and fabricates the various high and low pressure piping systems throughout the USBG which encompasses the domestic water distribution systems, the sewage systems, the steam generation systems, the tempered water systems, the hydronic heating system, the fire sprinkler system, the drain, waste and vent systems and the irrigation systems.

Carpentry

Performs carpentry and other disciplines such as glazing and painting work as required. Constructs, installs, repairs and/or modifies wood and wood substitute structures and items, such as door and window frames, furniture, etc. to include finishing and painting. Installs or replaces interior partitions, flooring, panels, suspended ceilings, counter tops, moldings and glazing. Inspects, installs or replaces glazing and vent system components in the various greenhouses.

Maintains and Repairs Boilers

Connects, adapts, fixes, sustains and runs the low and medium pressure vessels at the USBG that are used for the production and distribution of hot water, tempered water, low pressure and medium pressure steam. Installs, modifies, repairs, maintains, troubleshoots and operates the auxiliary equipment associated with the pressure vessels. Accomplishes scheduled annual preventive maintenance of the pressure vessels, which occurs during the shut-down periods of the hydronic and steam heating systems, in order to prepare the heating systems for the new heating season.

Reviews, keeps up and checks the status of the computer operated environmental control system and all the areas that it controls. Regularly checks and confirms the various display screens which includes zone summary, alarms, zone detail and conditional control. Reads as necessary the master menu and checks the zone parameters for the temperature regimes and strategies for the growing environments. Sustains efficient combustion levels and ensures compliance with air pollution laws or regulations.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11 - Full Performance Level is WG-11

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) certification by an EPA-Approved Technician's Certification Program is desired, but not required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must show journey level experience in at least two of the following occupational areas: Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing or Carpentry. This experience must be reflected in your resume.

You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT: Ability to perform the duties of a maintenance mechanic (i.e. heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical, carpentry, plumbing/pipefitting boiler plant maintenance) without more than normal supervision.

Qualification at the WG-10 versus the WG-9 is dependent on the degree of experience in the different trades.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series

You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.

Education

Additional information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING : The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.

The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.

The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies:

1. Knowledge of technical practices performed in the air conditioning, pipefitting, electrical, and/or carpentry trades.

2. Skill using tools in the air conditioning, pipefitting, electrical, and/or carpentry trades.

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information. No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application.

We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials. The resume should include dates of employment.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.

If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).

If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.