Maintenance Worker
What you'd do
You will serve as a Maintenance Worker with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Loleta, California. You will perform a wide range of construction, repair, and maintenance work on buildings, facilities, vehicles, heavy equipment, and refuge lands while using hand tools, power tools, specialized machinery, and various trade techniques to support daily operations and land management needs.
Major duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: - Perform building and facility maintenance by repairing electrical systems, heating and cooling units, plumbing, carpentry, roofing, masonry, painting, and welding using hand tools, power tools, testing devices, and trade equipment. - Maintain and repair vehicles, heavy machinery, small engines, and equipment by replacing parts, troubleshooting mechanical issues, completing preventative service, and installing hardware or software components. - Operate heavy equipment and motor vehicles such as bulldozers, excavators, loaders, tractors, trailers, and trucks to complete earth-moving, road and trail work, land management tasks, pesticide application, and equipment transport. - Lead small projects by planning work steps, training others, promoting safe practices, maintaining equipment records, and entering maintenance information into approved computer systems. - Support refuge operations by maintaining water control structures, performing habitat restoration, installing fences and signs, assisting with land management activities, and completing other related maintenance tasks as needed. Physical Demands - The work requires significant physical effort, including heavy lifting, carrying, and setting up parts and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds unassisted and more than 50 pounds with assistance. - Tasks involve extensive standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing, and working in tiring or uncomfortable positions. - Work frequently requires the use of jacks, pulleys, dollies, ladders, scaffolding, and platforms, as well as working in hard-to-reach or high places. - Operation of vehicles and heavy equipment requires constant arm and leg movement, coordination, and alertness for safe control. Working Conditions - Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, with approximately 95 percent occurring outdoors. - Outdoor work exposes the worker to all weather conditions, running water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, and moving equipment or machinery. - Work sites include steep terrain, uneven and slippery surfaces, rocky ground, forests, and other rugged environments. - There is regular exposure to hazards such as cuts, bruises, falls, falling materials, loud noise, and risk of injury from operating machinery or working near public roads. - Required use of personal protective equipment includes protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, steel-toe boots, respirators, and other safety gear. - Work may involve hazardous materials, requiring proper storage, handling, labeling, and disposal according to federal and state environmental standards.
What you need to qualify
Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/17/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision (SCREEN OUT) Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc. Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Materials Vehicle Operation (SCREEN OUT) If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factors above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors. You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position. 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 will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
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