FUL-Engineering Equipment Operator.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Tulelake (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Tulelake, California seeks an Engineering Equipment Operator to handle heavy machinery for earthworks and maintenance on challenging terrains. The role emphasizes safe operation of various trucks and equipment, with strict adherence to safety standards.

Applicants must meet U.S. citizenship prerequisites, possess a valid driver’s license and CDL, and comply with pre-employment drug testing.

Qualifications

• Experience operating heavy equipment and performing earth moving tasks.
• Ability to follow safety rules and operate diverse machinery.
• Valid driver’s license and CDL required or in possession.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment to excavate, backfill, grade, or level earth.
• Perform earth moving on varied terrains including steep slopes and rocky ground.
• Operate motor vehicles such as tractor trailers, trucks, and dump trucks.
• Perform daily preventive maintenance and minor repairs on equipment.
• Follow established safety practices and regulations.

Skills

Operate heavy equipment

Vehicle operation

Safety procedures

Job description

Duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Operating a variety of types of heavy equipment to excavate, backfill, grade, or level earth.
• Performing earth moving operations on mountains and steep slopes, graded curves and shoulders, rocky or soft ground, hilly forests, vertical drop-offs (>10ft) and other surfaces with similar rough features.
• Operating motor vehicles including tractor trailers, truck and trailer combination, platform trucks, passenger buses, van trucks, fuel trucks, stake trucks, and dump trucks.
• Performing daily preventative maintenance and makes repairs and adjustments to equipment and attachments to equipment.
• Following safety practices and procedures following established safety rules and regulations.
  

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• 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 possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
• Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive test is received.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period -OR- 2-year trial period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
This Probationary Or Trial 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; and
• 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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 Element)
• Operation of Motor Vehicles
• Work Practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order)
• Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
• Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)
• Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
• Reliability and Dependability as an Engineering Equipment Operator
  

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: a radius of 80 miles from Tulelake, California. 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:

Very strenuous heavy physical effort is required in the operation and frequent adjustment of large pieces of equipment and attachments, often under adverse operating conditions. Location of the controls and attachments frequently requires work in awkward or strained positions. Additional physical requirements may be required due to facility maintenance assignments and tasks regarding ladders, confined spaces, lifting, stooping, bending, twisting, etc. Considerable energy is needed working in small, confined spaces or elevated areas, and operating equipment over rough surfaces. Work normally requires extensive standing, walking, kneeling and bending. Lifts, carries and sets up, parts, equipment and objects or loads up to 50 pounds, unassisted, and up to 100 pounds with assistance.

Working Conditions:

Work is accomplished both in an office setting (5%) and outdoors (95%). Due to operations of large and complicated equipment, often in rough terrain, the operator is exposed to injury resulting from equipment overturning, and is subject to noise, vibration, dust, fumes, grease, dirt, and moving parts of equipment and machinery. Work performed outside is in a variety of settings where steep terrain, extremely 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 personalprotective 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.