Maintenance Worker Helper

Role overview

This role is based at the U.S. National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC) in Athens, Georgia, which operates under the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Area. The center is a high biocontainment BSL-3 facility and one of three USDA-ARS Biosafety Level 3 laboratories. The position supports upkeep and repair work across the site, with duties centered on painting, carpentry, and welding.

Key duties

• Assist with maintenance and repair tasks related to facility operations.
• Carry out painting work as part of building upkeep.
• Support carpentry tasks needed for repairs and general maintenance.
• Perform welding-related maintenance helper work when required.

Qualifications and selection factors

Applicants must meet the vacancy qualification standards by the closing date of 07/02/2026. This Wage Grade position is evaluated under the Job Element Rating System X-118C and the Qualifications Standard Handbook. For most Wage Grade roles, a specific length of experience is not required; however, applicants must demonstrate through training and work history that they have the level of knowledge and skill needed to perform the job well.

The application should clearly show quality of experience, technical understanding, work background, and training. A strong application should demonstrate the ability to perform Maintenance Worker Helper duties with no more than normal supervision. Candidates who do not meet the screen-out requirement will not move forward in the hiring process.

Physical demands

The work involves frequent walking, long periods of standing, ladder and scaffold climbing, stooping, bending, crawling, and working in tight or awkward spaces. The role may require lifting objects weighing 45-50 pounds and, at times, heavier items with proper support.

Working conditions

Work is typically performed indoors in heated facilities, but some tasks may take place outdoors or on rooftops. Outdoor work can occur in all weather conditions. The role may expose the worker to dirt, spray, fumes, debris from hand or power tools, flying particles, and hot materials. There is also a risk of falls when working at heights, along with cuts, bruises, burns, and possible broken bones.

Protective clothing such as gloves, goggles, masks, respirators, boots, ear protection, and coveralls may need to be worn frequently, especially in laboratory settings. These items protect against biological and chemical hazards but can also make movement, communication, visibility, and dexterity more difficult. Extended use may contribute to breathing difficulty, heat stress, and dehydration. Personnel health is monitored periodically through biological and serological testing as well as physical examinations. After entering high-security animal facilities that work with disease agents not native to the United States, restrictions on contact with birds and livestock outside the laboratory may apply.

About the employer

The Agricultural Research Service is the USDA’s primary in-house scientific research agency, focused on solving agricultural problems that affect people every day, from production to the table.