Facilities Support Technician II

Job Summary:

The National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) provides diagnostic services to the Department of the Interior and other natural resource agencies, conducts epidemiological investigations and surveillance, conducts laboratory and field research on wildlife health and disease, and disseminates data and information to natural resource managers. The NWHC operates facilities in Madison, Wisconsin which include biological containment areas for conducting laboratory and animal studies with infectious agents. The biological containment areas are complex to operate and maintain, and these areas must meet regulations established for working safely with infectious agents. Therefore, maintenance and upkeep of NWHC facilities is necessary to sustain the scientific programs of the NWHC. The main campus of the NWHC is located in Madison, Wisconsin. Infrastructure required to operate Center offices and laboratories includes hot-water boilers, steam boilers, chillers, cooling towers, air handlers, roof-top exhaust fans, waste-water decontamination systems, incinerators, autoclaves, water heaters, water softeners, water deionization systems, and other water treatment systems for boiler and chiller water supplies. Additionally, grounds maintenance, including mowing, snow removal, and trimming of vegetation, is required to maintain safe access to Center employees and visitors.

Akima is hiring a Facilities Support Technician to work with the Facilities Operations Specialist and Maintenance Mechanics to conduct physical labor and maintenance work, both indoors and outside, and during all seasons to maintain NWHC infrastructure and grounds to facilitate safe and biosecure operations of NWCH laboratories and operations. Vaccinations may be necessary. Overnight travel will occasionally be required for this task order. The main tasks will include but are not limited to:

Job Responsibilities:

Task 1: Facility Infrastructure Operations:

• Assists in operation of the heating system. This involves providing assistance to higher-level technicians to maintain hot-water boilers, steam boilers, and associated water-treatment systems, circulating pumps, and associated computer control systems, building control systems, and burner controls. Examples of equipment include gas-fired steam boilers, gas-fired water boilers, and gas and electric water heaters. Assists in the disassembling, cleaning, inspecting, repairing, reassembling, and returning heating systems to service.

• Assists in the operation of the air conditioning system. This involves providing assistance to higher-level technicians to maintain chillers, circulating pumps, cooling towers, fans, motors, control systems, and associated water-treatment systems. Assists in the disassembling, cleaning, inspecting, repairing, reassembling, and returning air conditioning systems to service.

Task 2: Laboratory Infrastructure Operations:

• Assists in maintaining laboratory systems. This involves providing assistance to higher-level technicians to maintain laboratory air-pressure control systems, waste-water treatment systems, biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, autoclaves, and laboratory utilities such as hot water, cold water, and deionized water, compressed air, and natural gas.

Task 3: Routine Maintenance, Grounds-keeping, and Repairs:

• Performs a variety of operations, maintenance, and upkeep work. Examples of work include visual inspection of critical systems at start and end of each workday; assist in repair of laboratory equipment; assist with office moves; unload, move, and set-up of delivered items such as office furniture or laboratory equipment; inventory and clean-up of storage areas; assistance to remove discarded items; routine repairs such as filling cracks and holes in walls and ceilings, and touch-up painting; and grounds maintenance, including mowing, snow and ice removal, and trimming vegetation.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a High School diploma.

• Requires 1-2 years previous training or experience in AC/Heat systems, lab maintenance, and general maintenance.

• Requires the ability to obtain and maintain the equivalent of a Public Trust

• Requires a driver’s license for local travel via automobile.

• Requires moderate and at times strenuous physical labor, and requires work outdoors during all seasons and sometimes under adverse weather conditions.

• Physical demands include but may not be limited to standing or sitting for extended periods of time, lifting equipment and supplies in excess of 50 pounds, and exposure to outside elements.

• Manual dexterity is required, and personal protective equipment must be worn when conducting work in areas that use biological agents or hazardous chemicals.

• Required to participation in the Center occupational health program and includes medical clearance to wear a respirator.