Job Posting-Wrangell St. Elias National Park

United States Department of the Interior

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

RECRUITMENT BULLETIN: WRST-23-012

ISSUE DATE: December 12, 2022

CLOSING DATE: December 23, 2022

JOBS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE ALASKA LOCAL HIRE PROGRAM–PUBLIC LAW 96-487

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is accepting applications for Full-Time, Permanent, Career-Seasonal, Utility System Repairer-Operator position(s). More than one position may be filled from this bulletin. This announcement also is online at: https://www.nps.gov/wrst/getinvolved/employment.htm.

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POSITION DUTY LOCATION (s)

Utility Systems Repairer-Operator, WG-4742-09 Copper Center, AK

$34.50 – $40.23 per hour

Utility Systems Repairer-Operator, WG-4742-09 Kennecott, AK

$34.50 – $40.23 per hour

*The park is filling one position at each duty station – please specify within your resume which duty station you are applying for.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Permanent appointment, Career Seasonal full-time work schedule. This position’s work season is expected to be approximately year around. Non-pay time must be a minimum of 2 weeks but can be longer. Seasonal work may vary from year to year, and management may determine a need to change the non-pay time based on budget, workload, weather, or for other reasons.

This position has a career seasonal work schedule that provides for at least 26 weeks of full-time work, and up to 26 weeks of non-duty/non-pay time, per year. The work season is expected to be approximately March through October. The nature of the work may vary from year to year and management may determine a need to change the non-pay time based on budget, workload, weather, or for other reasons. When your services are not required, you will be placed in non-pay, non-duty status. You will have the option to continue your health coverage while in non-pay.

Permanent career seasonal employee may be converted to the competitive service after two years of satisfactory service in the same appointment, and upon meeting all regulatory requirements. Competitive service enables employees to compete for other career opportunities through announcements that are open to current permanent Federal employees. Government housing is not available. May be placed in travel status for up to 10 nights per month.

BENEFITS: Working for the National Park Service offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include, in part, sick and administrative leave, paid holidays, life and health insurance, retirement benefits, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan which includes a percentage of government matching contributions; and performance-based longevity pay increases. You may also be able to work a flexible schedule.

DUTIES: This position serves as the Utility System Repairer and Operator for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve.  Duties include but are not limited to; inspections and servicing of water treatment systems including pumps, chlorinators, and electrical control mechanisms on water systems. Check chlorine residual of potable water and adjusts chlorine feed rate to keep it within tolerable limits. Must be able to disassemble, clean, overhaul, and reassemble chlorinators as required.  Evaluate plant or system efficiency and for process control and accurately recording and reporting test results to ensure water meets all requirements.  Perform filter changes, pressure reading and documentation as it pertains to filtration plants while operating, maintaining, and monitoring a water treatment system including calibrating turbidimeters, testing for pH, temperature, and chlorine residual. They will work closely with the supervisor, public health, safety, and Alaska Department of Environmental Compliance (ADEC), to activate/deactivate water treatment utility systems as needed (e.g., seasonally). Incumbent will ensure water quality is in compliance with all Federal, state, and/or local regulations, as well as Departmental and Bureau level policy. Position will also repair and install oil and propane heating systems, including boilers, heaters, hydronic systems. 

This occasionally involves working in remote locations that involve long distances to reach and require proper planning to complete with limited local resources and personnel.  Employee will be expected to track work on automated software systems for the administration of these utility systems and for record keeping.  This position will be expected to order materials, equipment, and supplies for utility work. Work is both indoors and outdoors and subject to prevailing weather conditions. 

PHYSICALEFFORT: Work assignments typically require moderately heavy physical effort to lift, carry, or otherwise handle items typically weighing up to 40 pounds. Duties require the incumbent to maneuver into and out of specific locations while dismantling and assembling utility related equipment. The incumbent makes repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are in hard-to-reach places. Frequent standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching, and stooping is typical. Occasionally, climbing and work in high places may be required, as well as the use of hoists, holders, and pulleys when handling large equipment.

WORKCONDITIONS:Work is both indoors and outdoors where the incumbent may be subject to prevailing weather conditions. The incumbent may be exposed to biological hazards or diseases while cleaning equipment or shoveling sludge, and hazardous gases such as methane, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. The incumbent may also be subject to electrical shock, loud noises, acids, and hydraulic fluids while working around motors and pumps. There is exposure to shock, burns, and strains. The incumbent follows prescribed safety practices and uses safety equipment such as face shields, gloves, hard-toe shoes, respirators, and protective clothing that may be uncomfortable to wear. The incumbent is required to attend and participate in safety meetings and training and review and follow safety regulations and policies prior to using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as goggles, rubber mats, gloves, hard hats and respirators as the jobs require. The incumbent may be required to operate motor vehicles and heavy engineering equipment.

For more information about the duties of this position,please contact Jay Heidelberg at (907)822-7248 or by email at Japheth_heidelberg@nps.gov

WHO MAY APPLY: Any U.S. citizen who has acquired special knowledge or expertise regarding the natural or cultural resources of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, by reason of having either lived or worked in or near the park. Applicant resume should reflect periods of time having lived or worked within the area of consideration.

Area considered “near” Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve are Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy Lake, Kenny Lake, Long Lake, Lower & Upper Tonsina, McCarthy, Mendeltna, Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Nelchina, Northway/Northway Village, Northway Junction, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, Tonsina and Yakutat.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Requirements will be determined by evaluating experience in your resume and/or the interview and selection process. All position requirements must be met by the closing date of this job posting.

Knowledge or expertise concerning the natural and/or cultural resources of the Park and Preserve and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in performance of the duties.

Following are six competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are welcome to include in their resumes, information related to these competencies.

1. Ability to do the work of a WG-4742 Utility Systems Repairer-Operator without more than normal supervision (screen-out).

2. Ability to obtain an Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Water Treatment Level II Provisional or Level 1 Certification. List any current certifications you possess and any that you are currently working toward.

3. Knowledge of equipment assembly, installation, repair, etc. related to repair work and operation of water treatment facilities.

4. Knowledge of technical practices related to repair work and operation of water and treatment facilities (theoretical, precise, artistic).

5. Knowledge of materials and ability to use measuring instruments and to use and maintain tools and equipment related to repair work and operation of water treatment facilities.

6. Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc. related to repair work and operation of water treatment facilities (includes blueprint reading).

Volunteer Experience: 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 are encouraged to include any volunteer experience within your resume.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication before starting work.
• Federal employees are required to utilize Direct Deposit (Electronic Funds Transfer/EFT), for their Federal Salary checks.
• A valid state driver’s license is required.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement.
• This position may work a variety of schedules, which may include evening, weekend and/or holiday work
• Overtime may be required.
• You will be subject to a two-year trial (probationary) period.
• May be required to travel up to 10 nights per month.
• Government housing is not available for this position.
• May be eligible for Telework with prior supervisor approval.
• Must have the ability to lift 50 pounds on a regular basis.
• Must have a Small Water Treatment or Level one license.

HOW TO APPLY:

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!If your application package is incomplete, you will not be considered for this position.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to EO 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace

safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Please indicate on your resume which duty station you are applying for: Copper Center, AK or Kennecott, AK

Special application policies are in effect only during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All applications must be postmarked or received via email by the closing date of the announcement.If your application package is postmarked on the closing date it must be received in this office, no later than 8 calendar days after the closing date. This may be extended due to inclement weather. Emailed applications must be received by close of business on the closing date.

You may email your application to: wrst_hr@nps.gov. Be sure to not include any PII (Personally Identifiable Information), such as your Social Security Number, driver’s license number, or passport number.

Hand-delivered applications cannot be accepted. We do not accept faxed applications, or applications mailed in postage-paid government envelopes or through an internal government mail system.

Applications packages can be mailed to the following address: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, PO Box 439, Copper Center, Alaska 99573. Assistance may be obtained from the park office by calling 907-822-5234.

A complete application package must include:

1. Resume that provides detailed information about your work experience. Also include: the recruitment bulletin number of the position for which you are applying; and for each period of employment: the dates worked (for example, June 2009 through August 2010), the position title, employer’s name, address and phone number.
2. DD-214 if claiming points of Veteran’s Preference; if claiming 10 points of Veterans’ Preference, also include the SF-15 and verification documents described on the back of the SF-15.

If your application package is incomplete or illegible, you will not be considered for this position.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documentation/proof of claimed status of veteran’s preference, qualifications, and education. Applicants will not be solicited for further data if that provided is found to be inadequate, illegible, or incomplete.

Application materials will not be returned; therefore, do not submit original documents that you may need in the future, or extra materials such as letters of recommendation, photographs, or award certificates.

If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired or you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fines, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE (for qualifying veterans): To receive Veteran’s Preference, your application package must include a legible copy of the DD-214, Military Discharge, that shows the type of discharge from service (usually the Member 4 copy), or Report of Separation from Active duty if separation was prior to July 1, 1979. If claiming 10-point veteran’s preference, you must also provide a completed SF15 (www.opm.gov/forms) and verification documents listed on the SF15. If you are separated and do not have a DD214 yet you may use an official statement of service from your command that you have completed active service and are being discharged under honorable conditions, or provide other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. You will not receive veteran’s preference if you do not provide this documentation.

If you do not know whether you have preference, this link can assist you. https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/

Reasonable Accommodations: The agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the park office listed on this announcement. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Privacy Act Information The application you submit for this position contains information subject to the privacy act of 1974 (PL-93-579, 4 USC 552a). We are required to provide you with information regarding our authority and purpose for collecting this data, the routine uses which will be made of it and the effects, if any, of non-disclosure. You are entitled to the same information as it pertains to disclosure of your social security number. Any questions you may have regarding the Privacy Act regulations and the rights it extends can be answered by contacting the park office.

Equal Employment Opportunity Appointments are made without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, political affiliation, national origin, marital status, non-disqualifying handicap condition or any non-merit factor.