Facilities Maintenance Specialist III (#1873)

BACKGROUND

The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a one-of-a-kind facility located on Fort Detrick in Frederick MD and is dedicated to defending the nation against biological threats. Its work supports DHS and National biodefense preparedness planning, response, emerging threat characterization and bioforensic analyses. It is the first national laboratory created by DHS in response to biodefense gaps identified following the Amerithrax attacks of 2001 and has been operated by the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) since 2006. Since its inception, NBACC and its staff have filled critical shortfalls in our scientific knowledge of biological agents needed to protect the public and defend the Nation from biological threats, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate and provided federal law enforcement with scientific data to support the investigation and attribution of biocrimes and protection of the US bioeconomy.

NBACC includes two centers: the National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC), which conducts technical analyses in support of federal law enforcement investigations, and the National Biological Threat Characterization Center (NBTCC), which conducts experiments and studies to obtain data required for a better understanding of biological vulnerabilities and hazards. Together these centers offer a unique national resource for understanding the risks posed by biological agents and emerging technologies to inform biodefense policy and response planning and the operational capability to support the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of biocrimes and bioterrorism.

PRIMARY FUNCTION

The Facilities Maintenance Specialist (FMS) III assists the Facility Maintenance Manager in developing policies, plans and procedures to operate the facility. This includes, but is not limited to, work planning/control, systems maintenance, specialized utility equipment, and the operation of the building automation system. The FMS III functions as the lead for facility operations activities to ensure work is properly planned, addresses the related scope/hazards, and such activities are completed in a timely/cost effective manner. Performs maintenance on specialized industrial utility systems used to support biological research in high containment laboratory environments. Maintains operability of NBACC equipment and building systems.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school graduate (or equivalent) with a minimum of eight or more years of experience related to Commercial and Industrial building systems (e.g., plumbing, HVAC, electrical, controls).
• Demonstrates experience in being a technical lead on industrial systems.
• Familiar with Building Automation Systems (BAS) (e.g., Siemens, Johnson Controls).
• Experience in high containment laboratory facilities is preferred.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of OSHA safety regulations.
• Must be willing to obtain and maintain qualifications required to perform maintenance activities in BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories.
• Ability to analyze workflow allowing for identification of areas where safety concerns need to be mitigated and development of streamlined methods to support completion of tasks in a safe/secure manner.
• Competent with methods, tools, and equipment used in the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical equipment.
• Must be highly detail oriented, organized, and dependable.
• Able to reset critical alarms on equipment (e.g., fans, effluent decontamination system (EDS), BAS, etc.).
• Skills and experience to support laboratory activities and work in accordance with NBACC's management system (e.g., ISO).
• Must be a citizen of the United States, able to obtain and maintain an interim secret clearance leading to a top-secret clearance and suitability for DHS.
• Participation in the Immunization Program, Medical Surveillance Program, and/or enrollment in the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) is required.
• Required to participate in NBACC's alternative work schedule and/or on-call schedule.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs preventive maintenance and repairs on all plumbing systems (e.g., steam, chilled water, domestic/lab water).
• Performs Backflow Certifications.
• Ensure all records and documentation on assigned tasks are maintained in our electronic management systems.
• Provides general mechanical repairs and renovations to various building systems.
• Completes assigned utility training programs and adheres to NBACC procedures and OSHA related safety training.
• Provides support for planned and unplanned maintenance issues and Facility upgrades.
• Takes the lead on performing preventative maintenance on critical equipment (e.g., fans, motors, pumps, etc.).
• Must become a BSL-3 mentor.
• Must learn how to perform all types of decontamination in the building, including Class II/Class III BSCs, specialized gloveboxes, etc.
• Must be a team player, communicate clearly, be open to hearing ideas and suggestions from others, diffuse situations, and exercise empathy and patience with colleagues.
• Must have the ability to multi-task, maintain composure under pressure, and utilize effective time management skills to prioritize tasks.
• Must be a self-starter driven by an eagerness to succeed, maintain flexibility, adapt to change in a productive and positive manner, learn new concepts, and utilize critical thinking to resolve complex problems.
• Maintains appropriate records.
• Performs other duties as assigned/authorized.