Summary

This position is in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Southeast Area, United States National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC), Athens, Georgia.

In this position, you will be an integral member of the Location Support Office, directing and managing all biosafety and biocontainment facilities engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, as well as buildings and grounds activities and functions.

Duties

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• Serve as a subject matter expert and technical authority on high and maximum biosafety, biocontainment, and biosecurity containment and operational issues.
• Ensure compliance with relevant statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements governing both program activities and biosafety and biocontainment programs within existing facilities and their operations.
• Develop and maintain high and maximum containment operational procedures for research and animal laboratories and facilities and develop guidance, policies, and protocols for the USNPRC Biorisk Management Program.
• Plan and execute long-range programs and projects that apply new operational and maintenance standards to Biosafety Level-3 facilities.
• Manage the annual facilities Repair and Maintenance (R and M) Plan for the USNPRC facilities.
• Serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative on contracts relating to operational management of medium to high containment facilities at USNPRC.
• Oversee Project Management and Architect/Engineering design services task orders including plan/submittal reviews, payment evaluations, recommendations to the contracting officer, and contractor evaluations.
• Develop new theories/concepts in tracking, implementing and enhancing maintenance tasks and duties to improve biocontainment, reduce maintenance costs, and accelerate organizational change to prevent human error in biocontainment facilities.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Minimum Qualifications:

GS-14 Grade Level

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-13 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is maintaining and/or providing daily operations for high containment laboratories and animal facilities supporting biological agents and toxins research; preparing budget estimates for maintenance, repairs, supplies, or other operational costs for a facilities management program; complying with Select Agent Program regulatory requirements and federal regulations pertaining to contracts for facilities maintenance projects; developing, implementing, or updating maximum-containment policies or procedures; and integrating biocontainment engineering and biosafety practices into animal disease research and diagnostic operations.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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.

This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. The final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.