Electrical Worker

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Manhattan, KS, operates the NBAF facility where the Electrical Worker will install, modify, repair, maintain, test, and load electrical distribution systems and equipment across the center. The role requires meeting the qualification standards and passing the required safety and screening elements.

The position is based at NBAF in Manhattan, Kansas, with responsibilities tied to high containment research

Qualifications

• Experience demonstrating ability to perform electrical trade duties with minimal supervision.
• Must meet the Screen Out element and pass evaluation per standard handbook.

Responsibilities

• Install, modify, repair, maintain, test, and load new and existing electrical distribution systems, equipment and their components.

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area (PA), National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will work in facilities and install, modify, repair, maintain, test, and load new and existing electrical distribution systems, equipment and their components.

Duties

In this position, you will work in facilities and install, modify, repair, maintain, test, and load new and existing electrical distribution systems, equipment and their components.

Requirements

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement: 10/06/2026. Qualifications will be determined under the Job Element Rating System X-118C, Qualifications Standard Handbook. While a specific length of time and experience is not required for most Wage Grade positions, you must show through experience and training that you possess the best qualified level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of this position. Qualification requirements emphasize the quality of experience, not necessarily the length. 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. (For example You must have the ability to perform the duties of a, Electrical Workerwithout more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration.

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.

Working Conditions

Incumbent is exposed to varying abnormal temperatures and conditions, both indoors and outside buildings. The incumbent works in areas where equipment is in continual operation, and noise levels are abnormal and odors prevail. The incumbent is subject to infection, mechanical injury, gas, cuts, bruises, fumes, dirt and grease.

Work requires changes to clothing provided by NBAF while at work duty station. Work may require to showering prior to reporting to duty station in accordance with entrance/exit safety protocols for specific areas of the center. The incumbent must use safety equipment including hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, lock out tag out (LOTO), arc flash clothes and other protective items. The incumbent must wear a full face respirator when working in biological control areas; and restrictions of facial hair may be imposed for proper use of personal protective equipment. Discomfort may occur when wearing protective clothing, gloves, and eye goggles. May be called-in on nights and weekends for emergency repairs and operations. The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations.

Restrictions against contact with birds and livestock outside the laboratory may apply after entering high security animal facilities that are working with disease agents foreign to the United States. 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. Ongoing Health Status Monitoring Psychological and physical health are monitored as part of a person 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. Personal Protective Equipment 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.

Decontamination/Body Requirements 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. Personal Recognizance Quarantine (PRQ) 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.

Physical Effort The work requires performing duties in utility spaces, on ladders and scaffolding and may operate a boom truck. Work requires close hand and eye coordination; active walking; prolonged periods of standing on concrete floors, climbing, bending, and reaching and working in cramped positions or crowed areas or confined spaces (manholes). The incumbent may be required to lift objects weighing up to 75 pounds with proper support.

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/.