Utility Systems Repairer Operator Leader

Summary

As a Utility Systems Repairer Operator Leader, you will apply advanced skills to lead the operation, maintenance, and repair of our utility systems in support of our facilities in Montgomery County, MD, Durham, NC and Hamilton, MT to include Bio-Safety 3 & 4 Labs. These state-of-the-art labs are designed to protect our researchers and staff. Apply today and be a part of a team that works to keep these labs operational. For more information on BSL labs, click here.

Duties

As a Utility Systems Repairer Operator Leader, you will: Independently perform extensive inspections and testing of utilities systems, associated facilities systems, and equipment to ensure proper operation and adherence to standards and tolerances. Start, stop, operate, make adjustment, maintain, and repair various utilities systems i.e., chilled water, condensate, steam, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and other systems and repair equipment to dampers, control valves, room temperatures, heat exchangers, and other equipment within the facilities. Visually inspect, and from results of diagnostic tests and general utilities system knowledge, locate the cause of malfunction and make necessary adjustments or repairs to restore to working order various types of utilities systems and equipment, and associated facilities, building systems and equipment. Independently operate and monitor virtual Building Automation Systems control console and utilities systems from different buildings. Lead other Utility Systems Repairer Operators and Maintenance Mechanics in accomplishing the assigned work. Lead other Utility Systems Repairer Operators and Maintenance Mechanics in following safety practices and procedures and established safety rules and regulations in maintaining a safe and clean work environment.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies: Ability to do the work without more than normal supervision Knowledge of equipment assembly installation, repair, etc. Technical practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) Use of measuring instruments Ability of interpret instructions, specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading) Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

How to apply

To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 10/08/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package. Complete the application questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12956982 Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application. In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later. We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at hrss@nih.gov. If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact NIH HR Service Desk Branch C at OHRCSDBRANCHCSRVDSK@od.nih.gov. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date. Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.

Required documents

RESUME: Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed. Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text. You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position: Job title Employer name Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY) Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated) Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions) If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Guidance. If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit a completed application questionnaire. ELIGIBILITY/PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: You must submit the following documentation, if applicable to you AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire. If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility. SF-50 - A copy of your most recent competitive career or career conditional SF-50 that shows the effective date of your latest position and the full performance level. You may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from your human resources office or, if you are an HHS employee, from your eOPF. If you separated from Federal Government employment, you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 via the Federal Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration. Veteran Documentation: (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.). Reference Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for required documentation if you are a 10-point preference eligible. Submission of SF-15 is not required, unless you have derived preference (XP) as described in questions 7, 8, or 9 on the SF-15. In those cases, you must submit a completed SF-15 and the required documentation. For 5 point preference eligibles, you must submit your DD-214 (if separated) or any written documentation from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package. Schedule A (Disability Appointment): Documentation of eligibility for employment under Schedule A can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on a medical professional's letterhead. Please note the Schedule A hiring authority neither guarantees employment, nor gives an individual preference in the hiring process. Documentation to support any other noncompetitive or OPM interchange agreement eligibility. Reference the Eligibility section of the questionnaire for required documents and information. Visit our sites on Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) for more information and required documentation. Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.

Additional information

This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage. If selected, you will be tested for illegal drug use; and during employment you will be subject to random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug testing. Employment is contingent on a negative drug test result. This position may be assigned to work with, handle, receive, or store materials designated as Select Agents and Toxins by the Federal Select Agent Program, and is subject to the terms of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Biological Surety Program (BSP). The NIH BSP requires successful completion of the following: A Bioterrorism Security Risk Assessment: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/bioterrorism-security-risk-assessment-form Initial and annual medical qualification assessments held by the NIH Occupational Medical Services. Initial and annual behavioral health screenings, including qualification assessments held by the NIH Behavioral Health Screening Official. A deemed export review per 15CFR 734.8(c). An annual Collective Foreign Threats Screening. Initial and recurrent safety and biological safety training provided on the job. This is a Tier 3 noncritical sensitive National Security position and an Access National Agency Check Inquiry (ANACI), background investigation is required. For more information about NIH BSP please visit http://www.selectagents.gov/index.html. A complete list of Select Agents and Toxins can be found at http://www.selectagents.gov/SelectAgentsandToxinsList.html. Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period. We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions. The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus. Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process. Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).