Facilities Support Technician IV (DAY SHIFT)

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.

Akima is hiring a Facilities Support Technician IV 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. 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. The technician will also be expected to work with center leadership and facilities staff to determine timeframes for responses to facilities alarms.

The Facilities Technician IV shall undertake tasks described below and within written established guidelines. The technician will provide on-site assistance for response to repairs needed for critical infrastructure during normal business hours. The position will consist of an 8 hour shift ranging from 6am to 5:30pm Monday-Friday.

Job Responsibilities:

• Task 1: Facility infrastructure operations

  • Independently operates the heating system after receiving initial instructions from lead technician or engineer. When standard procedures and precedents are not available, performs trouble-shooting and conducts various tests to determine necessary actions. This involves performing work independently 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. Disassembles, cleans, inspects, repairs, reassembles, and returns heating systems to service.

  • Independently operates the air conditioning system after receiving initial instructions from lead technician or engineer. When standard procedures and precedents are not available, performs trouble-shooting and conducts various tests to determine necessary actions. This involves performing work independently to maintain chillers, circulating pumps, cooling towers, fans, motors, control systems, and associated water-treatment systems. Disassembles, cleans, inspects, repairs, reassembles and returns air conditioning systems to service.

• Task 2: Laboratory infrastructure operations

  • Independently operates laboratory systems after receiving initial instructions from lead technician or engineer. When standard procedures and precedents are not available, performs trouble-shooting and conducts various tests to determine necessary actions. This involves performing work independently 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

  • Independently 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; repairs of laboratory equipment; unload, move, and set-up of delivered items such as office furniture or laboratory equipment; inventory and clean-up of storage areas; 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 3 years of combined technical education, training or experience in general maintenance, lab maintenance, AC/Heat Systems or similar duties.

• 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.

• Overnight travel may occasionally be required.

• USGS specific training may be required.