Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist

Agricultural Research Service • Ithaca, NY

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Northeast Area, Robert W. Holley Center of Agriculture and Health, in Ithaca, New York. The incumbent plans, directs, and oversees day-to-day operations of two facilities, including maintenance, remodeling, repairs, and long-term functionality of associated buildings, structures, and grounds. The role also provides support to the National Grape Improvement Center in Geneva, New York, and assists or supports research conducted by USDA-ARS scientists.

The position includes facility planning and budgeting, after-hours emergency response coordination, building-system troubleshooting, and management of facility records and documentation. It has safety and radiological-safety collateral duties, requires a motor vehicle or commercial driver’s license, and is designated sensitive because it involves protecting private, controlled unclassified, or proprietary information with a moderate impact degree.

Work may take place in offices, laboratories, greenhouses, head houses, wet laboratories, warehouses, and other facilities, as well as outdoors in demanding conditions. The job involves substantial walking, standing, bending, inspecting and adjusting technical devices, and may require climbing ladders, operating lifts or forklifts, making minor repairs, and lifting objects up to 50 pounds. Travel, especially by motor vehicle, is required. The incumbent must pass a pre-employment physical examination and use required protective equipment.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must complete a one-year probationary period, unless previously served; a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period also applies unless prior service is creditable.
• New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements; current federal employees applying for promotion must have 52 weeks at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.
• For GS-12, must have one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11, including experience maintaining facility or property records or operations; ensuring compliance with safety standards or regulations; and managing contracts for construction, repair, or maintenance projects.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• A motor vehicle or commercial driver’s license is required.
• Must be able to perform considerable and strenuous physical activity, including walking, standing, bending, inspecting and adjusting technical devices, and potentially climbing tall ladders, operating personnel lifts and forklifts, making minor repairs, and assisting with lifting objects up to 50 pounds.
• Travel is required, especially by motor vehicle.
• Must take required safety precautions and wear protective items such as safety glasses or goggles, gloves, steel-toe shoes, and hard hats.
• Must protect private, controlled unclassified, or proprietary information.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and oversee day-to-day operations of two facilities and the maintenance, remodeling, repair, and long-term functionality of associated buildings, structures, and grounds.
• Participate in strategic planning and provide recommendations and budget proposals regarding facility operations.
• Serve as the primary facilities contact for emergency notifications from fire and police regarding incidents after normal work hours when required.
• Analyze and diagnose building-system problems involving electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.
• Manage facility records and documentation, including drawings, specifications, manuals, warranty information, and building modifications.
• Provide support to the National Grape Improvement Center in Geneva, New York.
• Support or assist research conducted by USDA-ARS scientists.
• Perform safety and radiological-safety collateral duties.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized, subject to a determination by the hiring official.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed