Maintenance Mechanic

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Vian (OK); On-site; USD 38,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Vian, Oklahoma seeks a maintenance-focused role to manage water control structures, fences, pumps, and related monitoring tasks. The position entails fieldwork outdoors and routine data logging.

Extensive safety procedures apply and heavy equipment operation is involved. Candidates will perform facility and vehicle maintenance, operate heavy machinery, and mentor staff and volunteers while ensuring safe practices and

Responsibilities

• Maintain and operate water control structures.
• Install and repair barbed wire fences and gates, and post and maintain boundary and entrance signs.
• Operate and adjust pumps, dams, water control structures and water flow rates.
• Measure, monitor and document all water use and levels, control structures, wells, and pumps.
• Perform building and facility maintenance by troubleshooting and repairing electrical, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, masonry, and heating and cooling systems.
• Maintain and repair vehicles, heavy equipment, and small engines by diagnosing issues, replacing parts, and completing preventive maintenance.
• Operate heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, graders, and loaders to support land management, road work, and construction projects.
• Train and mentor employees and volunteers while ensuring safe work practices and proper use of tools, equipment, and protective gear.
• Maintain accurate maintenance and equipment records by updating logs and entering data into approved systems.

Job description

Open: August 10, 2026 — Closes: August 23, 2026

Summary

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Vian, Oklahoma.

Major Duties

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

• Maintain and operate water control structures.
• Install and repair barbed wire fences and gates, and post and maintain boundary and entrance signs.
• Operate and adjust pumps, dams, water control structures and water flow rates.
• Measure, monitor and document all water use and levels, control structures, wells, and pumps.
• Perform building and facility maintenance by troubleshooting and repairing electrical, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, masonry, and heating and cooling systems.
• Maintain and repair vehicles, heavy equipment, and small engines by diagnosing issues, replacing parts, and completing preventive maintenance.
• Operate heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, graders, and loaders to support land management, road work, and construction projects.
• Train and mentor employees and volunteers while ensuring safe work practices and proper use of tools, equipment, and protective gear.
• Maintain accurate maintenance and equipment records by updating logs and entering data into approved systems.

Physical Effort/Demands Considerable physical effort is required in the operation and maintenance of facilities, equipment, and attachments. Considerable energy is needed working in small confined spaces or elevated areas, and operating equipment over rough surfaces. Location of the tools and controls/attachments frequently requires working in awkward or strained positions. Requires occasional lifting or handling of objects or materials up to 50-100 pounds, unassisted, following proper lifting procedures to avoid injury. Frequently required to stand while working, climb ladders or scaffolding, and bend, stoop, climb, and work in awkward positions. This requires standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing and working in tiring and cramped positions. Working Conditions Work is accomplished both in an office setting (5%) and outdoors (95%). Works outside in all kinds of weather and frequently exposed to running water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, falling from ladders or scaffolding, electricity, 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. Incumbent may also be exposed to energized circuits, electrical shock, burns, electrical rotary devices, cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and burns from chemicals. Work is regularly exposed to the possibility of bites, cuts, scrapes, 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 in adherence to applicable laws, rules, and regulations, such as: protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, steel toe heavy leather boots, respirator, and other personal protective items. Serious injury may result from getting caught in operating equipment, or from collisions with automobiles when operating on or near public roads.