TITLE: Motor Vehicle Operator, WG-5703, Grade 7; $18.06 to $21.06 per hour
TYPE OF POSITION: Federal Career-Conditional (Part-time, 36 hours per week)
DIVISION: - Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division, Fred L. Whipple Observatory
LOCATION: Amado, AZ

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Applications will be accepted from US Citizens, from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities. Non-status candidates and preference eligible veterans will be considered under external procedures. Status candidates will be considered under internal procedures. Two applications must be filed by status candidates and eligible veterans if consideration is desired for both external and internal procedures.

Special Conditions of Employment: The selected candidate must satisfactorily complete a physical examination prior to appointment and must comply with Drug Abuse Testing Program requirements. Some tasks require the use of a respirator and the incumbent must agree to an annual respiratory fit testing and training as well as an annual physical . Must have a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with a bus driving endorsement at the time of appointment. Other CDL endorsements including Hazardous Materials and air brake should be obtained on the job within the first three months of the appointment. Medical examinations are required to maintain a state Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

DUTIES: The Motor Vehicle Operator will perform a variety of duties involved in the support of scientific projects; transportation of tourists on a bus and transportation of supplies between the Tucson area and the Administrative Complex and minor maintenance of vehicles, buildings and mountain roads. The incumbent will perform duties on a regular and recurring basis including: tour bus driving, transportation of supplies from vendors in Tucson to the Administrative Complex, minor vehicle repair and fueling of the FLWO motor pool fleet. Other duties may include snow plowing and sanding of the paved road on the mountain, minor maintenance of buildings, and landscaping.

Special Working Conditions:Heavy physical effort will be required in constantly reaching, bending, turning and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate the bus and other vehicles. Due to the nature of some duties, the incumbent is required to work in awkward positions, and will handle objects weighing up to 100 pounds. Fork lifts are available for transporting heavy objects.

Minimum Qqualifications : In order to be rated basically qualified or eligible, an applicant's overall experience and training must indicate possession of the minimum skills, knowledge and abilities needed to perform the duties of the position. Describe your work experience that demonstrates that you possess each of the job elements listed below. Responses should be submitted on a separate sheet of paper and attached to your application form/resume. Failure to submit responses to the job elements will not in itself result in disqualification, but may result in not scoring high enough to be referred for interview and/or final consideration.

Selection will be made from among those candidates who demonstrate the highest potential to perform the job as determined by rating on the following elements:

1. Ability to do the work of a Motor Vehicle Operator without more than normal supervision. The candidate must have worked transporting people in 21 person buses or larger. (Screen-out element)

2. Ability to operate motor vehicles, trucks, and other heavy mobile equipment such as snow plows, front-end loaders and fork lifts on unpaved, steep, mountainous road and on highways. (Screen-out element)

3. Ability and knowledge to complete a variety of tasks and be capable of reading maps of Tucson and surrounding areas for pick-up of supplies and equipment.

4. Ability to maintain passenger vehicles and construction equipment.

5. Ability to drive safely.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations

BASIS OF RATING: Clearly describe in your resume or application your work experience, education and/or training as it relates to this vacancy. The information you provide will be evaluated to determine whether you meet the experience required for this position. It is to your benefit to fully describe your experience and education/training relative to the job requirements of this vacancy and the job elements identified above. Your application may not receive proper consideration if you do not provide adequate information.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested candidates must submit resumes/application and a copy of your commercial driver’s license (CDL) with all endorsements to Recruiter #455 at the address below or to saoresumes@cfa.harvard.edu. Please be sure to reference Job Posting #28-27. Applications must contain the announcement number, the grade you wish to be considered for, full legal name, mailing address with zip code, day and evening telephone numbers. The Smithsonian does not require a standard application form, but we need certain information to evaluate your qualifications. For experience most relevant to the position, include the name and address of employer, supervisor’s name and phone number, starting and ending dates (month and year), job title, salary, a description of your duties, responsibilities, accomplishments, and hours worked per week for each job listed. Indicate whether or not your current supervisor may be contacted. Prepare a separate entry for each job. In addition, job finalists will be asked to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine their suitability for Federal employment. Status applicants should submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal and information concerning any awards they received during their service if possible.

VETERANS: Applicants claiming entitlement to veteran’s preference must include a copy of their DD214. Applicants claiming entitlement to 10-point veterans’ preference must also submit an SF-15 form with the required documentary proof. A copy of DD 214 or other official documentation is required and may be faxed to 617-495- 7263, please ensure the vacancy announcement number is included.

NOTE: All Smithsonian Institution positions require background checks, including fingerprinting. New employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. Relocation expenses are not available.

SAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Please complete the Applicant Survey Form, which is used to collect information from candidates during the search process to evaluate the effectiveness of the Institution's search and recruit efforts. Please print all responses. The information provided is not a part of the selection process and will be used for statistical purposes only. Your voluntary responses will have no effect on your consideration.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in our workplace.

Visit our SAO website. or http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/sao-home.html

Mailing address:
Recruiter 455 (JP#28-27)
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
60 Garden Street, MS 17
Cambridge, MA 02138