Facilities Maintenance Specialist I

Battelle National Biodefense Institute, LLC; Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 56,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

NBACC at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD seeks a skilled HVAC Technician to maintain building systems in a high-containment environment, performing preventive and predictive maintenance, inspections, and small repairs to ensure safe, compliant operation. Requires a High School diploma with 0–4 years in HVAC/utility support; OSHA safety knowledge.

U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain interim secret clearance are required.

Qualifications

• High School diploma required; 0–4 years in HVAC/utility support preferred.
• Knowledge of OSHA safety regulations and building systems is essential.
• Basic understanding of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical principles to support preventive and predictive maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Performs preventive and predictive maintenance on building systems.
• Inspects premises to determine repair work necessary for building systems.
• Performs routine equipment repair and installation of office fixtures.
• Provides escorting for skilled craft service vendors.
• Maintains all spaces free of clutter and debris.
• Completes safety training programs and adheres to NBACC procedures.

Skills

HVAC

Preventive maintenance

Electrical principles

Plumbing

OSHA safety

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

CMMS

MS Office

Job description

Salary Range:$56,121.61 To $92,722.66 Annually

BACKGROUND

The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a unique facility located at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD, dedicated to defending the nation against biological threats. Established in response to biodefense gaps identified after the Amerithrax attacks of 2001, NBACC has been operated by the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) since 2006.

NBACC supports DHS and national biodefense preparedness planning, response, emerging threat characterization, and bioforensic analyses. It addresses critical scientific knowledge gaps regarding biological agents to protect the public and defend the nation against biological threats - whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. NBACC also provides federal law enforcement with scientific data to support the investigation and attribution of biocrimes and the protection of the U.S. bioeconomy.

NBACC is comprised of two centers:

• National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC): Conducts technical analyses to support federal law enforcement investigations.
• National Biological Threat Characterization Center (NBTCC): Conducts experiments and studies to gather data for understanding biological vulnerabilities and hazards.

Together, these centers serve as a national resource for assessing risks posed by biological agents and emerging technologies, informing biodefense policy and response planning, and supporting the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of biocrimes and bioterrorism.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs predictive and preventive maintenance to all building systems.
• Performs periodic or special inspections of premises to determine repair work necessary for building systems.
• Performs routine equipment repair and installation of office fixtures.
• Provides escorting for skill of craft service vendors.
• Maintains all mechanical and interstitial spaces free of clutter and debris.
• Completes assigned utility training programs and adheres to NBACC procedures and OSHA-related safety training.
• Performs other skill of craft duties associated with utility systems related to building systems.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists technicians with predictive, preventive, and corrective maintenance tasks on facility equipment by performing assigned tasks with supervision, particularly were general facility infrastructure crosses with specialty systems
• Provides escorting and on-floor support for specialty vendors and subcontractors, including communicating system history and providing input on scope and quality of work.
• Contributes to the development and improvement of maintenance procedures, SOPs, and system documentation by identifying recurring issues, data trends, or opportunities to improve reliability, compliance, and efficiency; provides input that may be incorporated into formal procedures by senior staff.
• Completes tasks assigned through the Asset Management/CMMS system, ensuring accurate and timely entry of labor, materials, system conditions and reliable system history.
• Follows facility specific biosafety and biosecurity protocols, including proper use of PPE and adherence to NBACC safety procedures and applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements (CDC/NIH BMBL, NFPA, ISO, NSF, DHS, DoD, etc.).
• Exhibits teamwork, clear communication, openness to ideas, and patience with colleagues, working collaboratively with FMS and FSS staff, EHS/Biosafety, Security, and laboratory personnel.
• Demonstrates the ability to multitask, maintain composure under pressure, and utilize effective time management skills to prioritize tasks in a complex, high containment environment.
• Is a self-starter driven by an eagerness to succeed, maintaining flexibility, adapting to change productively, learning new concepts, and using critical thinking to resolve complex technical problems.
• Maintains appropriate records.
• Performs other duties as assigned/authorized.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School graduate (or equivalent) and minimum of 0-4 years of experience related to HVAC systems and related support utility systems. Experience in high containment facility preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered as substitution for the specific requirements outlined above.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of OSHA safety regulations.
• Basic working knowledge for the trades of HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical principles to support the NBACC preventive and predictive maintenance repairs.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills preferred.
• Skills and experience to support laboratory activities in accordance with NBACC’s management system (e.g., ISO).

SECURITY/ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a U.S. citizen, able to obtain and maintain an interim secret clearance leading to a top-secret clearance and suitability for DHS.
• Participation in the Immunization Program, Medical Surveillance Program, and/or enrollment in the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) is required.
• May be required to participate in NBACC’s alternative work schedule and/or on-call schedule, depending on business needs.