Maintenance Mechanic

Summary

In this role, you will perform skilled maintenance, repair, construction, and heavy-equipment work supporting the Service's conservation mission. You will operate, maintain, and troubleshoot electric and gas-powered pumps, transport equipment and trailers with a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), support land and habitat projects, and keep facilities, systems, vehicles, and refuge lands safe and functional.

Duties

Maintain and repair buildings, facilities, and utility systems by diagnosing issues and completing electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating, cooling, welding, carpentry, cement and brickwork, and structural repairs using hand and power tools. Operate and maintain a variety of heavy equipment and vehicles such as: bulldozers, excavators, road graders, skid steers, backhoes, wheeled and tracked loaders, backhoes, wheeled equipment/vehicles, and specialized equipment to complete land-management, earthmoving, levee repair, canal and ditch cleaning, culvert replacement, and other water-infrastructure projects. Use a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to transport heavy equipment and trailers between the refuge's three workstations, ranging from 50-200 miles apart and separated by water, by safely hauling equipment over commercial highways, maneuvering large vehicles in tight locations, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local transport requirements. Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot electric and gas-powered pumps and water-control infrastructure to manage water levels across refuge wetlands, including operating and adjusting dams, valves, and flow-control structures to support habitat and wildlife needs. Support wetland habitat management and restoration aligned with refuge conservation objectives by applying herbicides and insecticides, conducting pest-management activities, operating tractors and implements on steep or uneven terrain.

Requirements

Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Must possess and maintain a valid State Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or obtain one within 6 months of appointment; to operate vehicles and equipment; positions requiring a CDL are subject to Department of Transportation medical, physical, drug, and alcohol testing requirements. Pre-employment and random drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. Will be required to obtain and maintain a Pesticide Applicators License to perform herbicide, insecticide, or pest-control duties. Must wear the official Service uniform and comply with all Service Uniform Policy requirements; a uniform allowance is provided. Must maintain certifications for all equipment operated, including heavy equipment, vehicles, tools, and machinery. May serve as a collateral duty firefighter and maintain the mandatory physical readiness standards associated with wildfire suppression or prescribed burning duties. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. *Additional Requirements located under Additional Information*

Qualifications and evaluation

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements: Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT) Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading) 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 Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 09/03/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13040953 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Required documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/03/2026: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the qualification requirements. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include Complete Required Assessment. Documentation that you meet Selective Factors, if applicable. Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.va.gov/records/ or call 1-800-827-1000. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation. Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL). Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Physical Demands: Considerable physical effort is required to operate and maintain facilities, equipment, and attachments. Work involves confined or elevated spaces, rough surfaces, and awkward or strained positions. Duties require extensive standing, climbing ladders or scaffolding, bending, stooping, kneeling, and working in tiring, cramped areas. Occasional unassisted lifting of 50-100 pounds is required using proper procedures. Working Conditions: Work occurs in an office (5%) and outdoors (95%), in all weather conditions. Outdoor work involves running water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, ladders, scaffolding, electricity, and moving equipment parts. Terrain is steep, uneven, rocky, and slippery, with frequent temperature extremes. Exposure includes energized circuits, shocks, burns, rotary devices, chemicals, cuts, and abrasions. Risks include bites, scrapes, bruises, falls, falling material, and injury from power equipment or hazardous materials. Strict safety compliance and use of PPE; protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, eye protection, gloves, steel-toe boots, respirators, and related gear is required. Serious injury may result from operating equipment or working near public roads. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.