FUL - Engineering Equipment Operator.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Calipatria (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uniform provided

Uniform allowance

Job summary

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) seeks an Engineering Equipment Operator to support habitat, water-management, and road maintenance projects at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex near Calipatria, CA.

You will operate and maintain heavy equipment, manage pumps and canals, and perform vegetation and land-management tasks to advance refuge objectives. This position requires a valid driver's license, background checks, and the ability to work outdoors in all

Qualifications

• Probationary period required and evaluation of fitness for continued employment.
• Must have valid driver's license and be able to obtain/maintain Pesticide Applicator's License.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate heavy equipment for habitat, water-management, agricultural, and infrastructure projects.
• Perform excavation, grading, leveling, clearing, mowing, and maintaining refuge roads, canals, ponds, dikes, and levees.
• Assess terrain, soil, and environmental conditions to choose safe equipment-operation methods.
• Operate and maintain agricultural tractors and implements for vegetation, planting, and land-management tasks.
• Manage pumps, valves, canals, and ditches to regulate water flow and support habitat objectives.
• Safely mix, apply, store, and dispose of herbicides/pesticides and maintain spray equipment.
• Maintain and repair equipment, fencing, and facilities using mechanical, electrical, welding, and carpentry skills.

Job description

Duties

• Safely operate heavy equipment for habitat, water-management, agricultural, and infrastructure projects.
• Perform excavation, grading, leveling, clearing, mowing, and maintaining refuge roads, canals, ponds, dikes, and levees.
• Assess terrain, soil, and environmental conditions to choose safe, effective equipment-operation methods.
• Operate and maintain agricultural tractors and implements for vegetation, planting, and land-management tasks.
• Manage pumps, valves, canals, and ditches to regulate water flow and support habitat objectives.
• Safely mix, apply, store, and dispose of herbicides/pesticides and maintain spray equipment.
• Maintain and repair equipment, fencing, and facilities using mechanical, electrical, welding, and carpentry skills.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• 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. To learn more, visit
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Pesticide Applicator's License.
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.

Qualifications

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

• Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
• Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)
• Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
• Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
• Operation of Motor Vehicles
• Reliability and Dependability as a Engineering Equipment Operator
• Work Practices (including keeping things neat, clean, and in order)

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 you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer Experience

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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions.

The defined vicinity for this position is: within a 100-mile commuting distance from Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 906 W. Sinclair Rd., Calipatria, CA 92233.

You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy, etc.). See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies.

Physical Demands

Considerable physical effort is required in the operation of the equipment and attachments and in performing maintenance of facilities, equipment, and attachments. Considerable strain can be caused by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jolting received from operation of the equipment over rough surfaces. Location of the controls and attachments frequently requires working in awkward or strained positions. Physical effort is required in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate the equipment and attachments. Frequently lifts and carries items weighing up to 50 pounds and often puts forth similar effort when pushing, pulling, turning and positioning parts, assemblies, equipment and tools.

Working Conditions

This position is required to perform work both inside and outside with most of the work outside in all kinds of weather and frequently exposed to irritation or discomfort from running water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, and moving parts of equipment and machinery. Work performed outside is in a variety of settings where steep terrain, uneven, rocky and slippery footing is normal. Temperature extremes are common.

Employee is regularly exposed to the possibility of shock, cuts, scrapes, and 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 a variety of personal protective equipment such as protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, steel toe heavy leather boots, respirator, and other personal protective items.

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. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here,

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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 that are 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. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.