Utility Systems Repairer Operator Supervisor

U.S. Department of Agriculture; Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The position is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, NBAF in Manhattan, KS.

You will supervise complex utility and waste-processing systems supporting a high-containment research facility, ensuring safe, reliable, and compliant operations around the clock. You will lead staff, manage budgets, and coordinate maintenance and repairs, using MAXIMO and related tools to track work and improve performance.

Qualifications

• Experience planning short- and long-term projects; budget responsibility.
• Ability to lead, supervise, and develop staff for a 24/7 operation.
• Proven skills in troubleshooting equipment and coordinating repairs.

Responsibilities

• Participates with Supervisory Facilities Engineer in planning projects and budget needs.
• Ensures schedules, deadlines, priorities, and staffing requirements are met.
• Directs tasks, resolves problems, and implements corrective actions with subordinate supervisors.
• Recommends promotions or reassignments and conducts evaluations.
• Oversees training, leave schedules, and personnel actions.
• Maintains compliance with permits and safety regulations; ensures emergency readiness.
• Reviews maintenance data in MAXIMO and inputs reports for accountability.
• Allocates budget and resources to ensure stock, parts, and supplies are available.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Staff supervision

Project planning

Troubleshooting

MS Excel

Tools

MAXIMO

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Summary

This position is located at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will oversee the operation, maintenance, and repair of complex utility and waste-processing systems supporting a high-containment research facility. You will supervise staff, manage resources, and ensure safe, reliable, and compliant utility and waste-treatment operations across a 24/7 mission environment.

Major Duties

• Participates with the Supervisory Facilities Engineer in planning short- and long-term projects and providing yearly budget requirements.
• Ensures work schedules, sequencing, deadlines, priorities, and staffing requirements are established and met.
• Works with subordinate supervisors to assign tasks, direct operations, resolve work problems, and implement corrective actions.
• Recommends promotions or reassignments and completes formal appraisals and training determinations for subordinate supervisors.
• Schedules leave, reviews personnel actions, acts on personnel problems, and serves as management representative at hearings/meetings.
• Serves as a technical resource for equipment operations, working with staff to troubleshoot malfunctions and determine repair needs.
• Works with subordinate supervisors to ensure properly trained personnel are available for safe operation, maintenance, and repair.
• Maintains all required federal, state, and local permits and ensures timely renewals.
• Plans routine maintenance schedules and ensures personnel readiness for emergency response situations.
• Develops qualitative and quantitative work standards and evaluates work accomplishments, cost, and utilization.
• Performs journey-level work during absences, shortages, heavy workload, or emergencies.
• Reviews data in MAXIMO (or similar computerized maintenance management system), (such as amount of time worked, materials/supplies used, work performed, etc.) for accountability purpose.
• Operates systems such as MAXIMO (or similar computerized maintenance management system), admin software, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer to input data, track actions, and produce reports.
• Oversees budget and allocates resources to ensure stock items, parts, supplies.
• Works with subordinate supervisors to ensure equipment, materials, and needed maintenance are available.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Evaluations

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies: Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprinting reading) Ability to Lead or Supervise Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc. Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job‑specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non‑selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

What to Expect Next

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status. You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status). Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to [e-mail], subject line: Fair Chance Act.

Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score‑based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.