Maintenance Mechanic

About the role

This position is at the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG). The USBG is a public garden in the legislative branch and was established by Congress in 1820. The Garden inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally.

We provide educational experiences to 1 million visitors annually, present horticultural displays and exhibits, strive to break down barriers to inclusion, and advance the exchange of ideas and information. Learn more: U.S. Botanic Garden.

What you will do

• This position serves as a Maintenance Mechanic at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), performing journey-level and developmental work across multiple skilled trades, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing/pipefitting, boiler plant operations, and carpentry.
• Employees selected at the WG-09 level will perform developmental assignments under closer supervision.
• As experience and proficiency increase, assignments become progressively more complex until the full performance level is reached.
• This is a career ladder position with promotion potential to WG-11.
• This is an essential position.
• The incumbent is required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather.
• The position requires availability from Saturday through Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Candidates should be prepared to work during holidays, weekends, and participate in rotating shifts as needed to support operational requirements.
• Duties quoted below are for the WG-10 grade level.
• Major Duties Include: Maintain, troubleshoot, repair, install, and operate a wide range of commercial and industrial HVAC systems.
• Diagnose control and equipment malfunctions using testing instruments and prescribed procedures.
• Perform repairs involving heating, cooling, humidification, dehumidification, filtration, and air circulation systems supporting USBG facilities and greenhouses.
• Balance systems and resolve complex HVAC performance issues.
• Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair electrical control and monitoring systems.
• Diagnose malfunctions in relay systems, interface devices, and analog/digital controls.
• Test electrical systems for correct operating conditions and compliance with applicable codes.
• Install, alter, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair high- and low-pressure piping systems.
• Work on domestic water, sewage, steam generation, hydronic heating, fire sprinkler, irrigation, and tempered water systems.
• Construct, install, repair, and modify wood and wood substitute structures.
• Perform glazing, painting, finishing, and installation of partitions, flooring, ceilings, countertops, moldings, and greenhouse glazing components.
• Safely operate hand and power woodworking tools.
• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair low- and medium-pressure boilers and associated auxiliary equipment.
• Conduct scheduled preventive maintenance, inspections, and seasonal system shutdown/startup activities.
• Monitor and adjust computer-operated environmental control systems supporting greenhouse environments.
• Perform fleet and automotive maintenance, small engine repair, fire alarm system maintenance, water reverse osmosis system repair, elevator inspection, and event setup/breakdown.
• Sustain efficient combustion levels and ensure compliance with air pollution laws or regulations.
• Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) certification by an EPA-Approved Technician's Certification Program is desired.
• WG‐09: Exposure to refrigerant handling; certification preferred upon entry.
• WG‐10: EPA 608 CFC certification strongly preferred; candidates should be able to service refrigerant‐bearing systems.
• WG‐11: EPA 608 CFC certification required or obtained within 6 months; leads complex HVAC system service and compliance.

Requirements

• A citizen of the United States; A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C.
• 1324b(a)(3)(B); A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C.
• 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C.
• 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C.
• 1408); or A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

How you will be evaluated

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.

The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies Evidence of knowledge, skills, and abilities in HVAC, electrical, plumbing/pipefitting, carpentry, and boiler plant maintenance. Ability to interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and codes. Proficiency in safety practices and compliance with OSHA regulations.

Experience with hazardous and universal waste management. Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions.

Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration.

(Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application). You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.
• To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire.
• The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information.
• No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application.
• We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials.
• The resume should include dates of employment.
• Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division.
• If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection.
• At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.
• For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status.
• If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.
• If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).
• If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.

Benefits

A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc. Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience.

The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).

The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.

What to expect next

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You can check the status of your application by logging into ***

You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJOBS Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings' to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes.

Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency.

A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test. The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.

The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States.

If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system.

For more information on E-Verify, please visit *** The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol. All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.