Facility Operations Specialist.

Duties

As a Facility Operations Specialist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Assists the Center Managers with a wide variety of contracted projects relating to the construction, repair, rehabilitation, or restoration of buildings, roads, trails, fences, grounds, and other facilities.
• Plans and develops short- and long-range maintenance goals which are determined by operational, administrative, regional and national programs and budget priorities for the Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery and the Wadmalaw Island Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (Center or FWCO).
• Prepares annual maintenance needs after consultations with the Hatchery Manager and FWCO project leaders regarding funding targets.
• Leads and provides oversight over all activities pertaining to the facility management of the Center. Oversight includes activities performed by volunteers, seasonal workers, contractors and lower graded employees.
• Responsible for the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment, vehicle fleet pool, watercraft, and trailers. Maintains a schedule for heavy equipment and fleet maintenance and replacement. Provides training for staff members on proper and safe use of equipment.
  
  

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-11. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
• Employees assigned to operate watercraft are required to possess knowledge and skills as certified by the completion of the Department's Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) or other approved watercraft training program.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
• A condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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.
• FWS Heavy Equipment Safety Training Certification for Agricultural Tractors Required.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  
  

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 06/23/2026 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Minimum Qualification [GS-09]

• Possess one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-07 in the Federal service. Experience must include (1) maintaining equipment, buildings, and/or roads; (2) repair of electrical or plumbing systems; and (3) operating motorized equipment such as vehicles, boats, and/or heavy equipment. NOTE: To be found qualified, your resume must provide sufficient detail proving you have performed these duties. OR
• Possess two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. if related to position to be filled. OR
• A combination of education (graduate level education beyond the first year of progressive graduate study) and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement
  
  

Minimum Qualification [GS-11]

• Possess at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or higher in the federal service, or equivalent non-federal experience, successfully performed ALL of the following: 1) implementing a facility maintenance program involving limited technical issues, such as planning the operation of a facility without elevators or escalators; 2) inspecting facilities to evaluate use patterns and identify maintenance or restoration requirements; 3) determining cost requirements for the operation and maintenance of the facility; AND 4) operating heavy equipment and/or motorized boats. NOTE: To be found qualified, your resume must provide sufficient detail proving you have performed these duties. OR
• Possess a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree with major study in one of the following fields: engineering, industrial arts, property management, or business administration. OR
• A combination of education (graduate level education the first two years of progressive graduate study) and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement
  
  

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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,

i. Area of Consideration.

ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.

iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Additional information

PCS INFORMATION: No PCS entitlements authorized

Telework: This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/"

Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit

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.

Probation/Trial Period Con't

The [probationary or trial] 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 -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.