Utility Systems Repairer Operator; USRO

Summary

This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Midwest Area (MWA), National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, Iowa. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Maintain and operate Utility Systems Repairer Operator (USRO) equipment with no more than normal supervision. Report during times of emergency or inclement weather and be available for shift work including weekends, nights, holidays, and after‑hours as needed to support mission requirements, contractor support, scheduled outages and normal operations.

To qualify, you must meet the requirements by the closing date of the vacancy announcement (06/02/2026). Qualification will be evaluated under the Job Element Rating System X-118C, Qualifications Standard Handbook. The emphasis is on the quality of experience rather than length. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of a USRO operator and must not be screened out by the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT.

Experience can include paid, unpaid, volunteer work, or National Service programs.

Work requires close hand‑and‑eye coordination, active walking, prolonged periods of standing on concrete floors, climbing, bending, reaching and working in cramped positions or crowded areas. May involve lifting equipment or material weighing up to 75 lbs. Duties are usually performed inside heated buildings but may require brief exposure to outside, roofs and other areas in inclement weather. Work environments include constant equipment operation, abnormal noise levels, possible exposure to infection, mechanical injury, gas, cuts, bruises, fumes, dirt, grease, and contagious disease.

Appropriate safety equipment must be worn and laboratory protocols followed. Full face respirator is required when working in biological control areas; facial hair restrictions may apply.

Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in‑house research agency. It finds solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans day‑to‑day from field to table. More information about Agricultural Research Service is available at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..