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Posted: January 16, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Seasonal - Tractor Operator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior

Fresh

Salary

$22.14 - $25.83

per hour

Closes

January 30, 2026

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This seasonal job involves operating tractors and attached equipment to handle tasks like planting, mowing, and hauling on a wildlife refuge in Iowa, typically lasting less than six months.

It's hands-on outdoor work on flat or uneven ground, including basic upkeep of the machinery.

A good fit would be someone with practical experience driving farm equipment who enjoys physical labor in nature and can work independently with minimal oversight.

Key Requirements

  • Ability to operate farm-type gasoline or diesel tractors on flat or rolling terrain without more than normal supervision
  • Experience performing operations like planting, cultivating, harvesting crops, mowing, and hauling
  • Skill in using auxiliary attachments such as cutter bars, plows, harrows, sprayers, discs, front-end loaders, dozer blades, and backhoes
  • Knowledge of performing preventative maintenance and making minor repairs/adjustments to tractors and equipment
  • Physical ability to work outdoors in various conditions on a temporary seasonal basis (less than 6 months or 1040 hours)
  • Acceptable rating on the screen-out element and job elements in the OPM assessment questionnaire

Full Job Description

This position is a Tractor Operator, WG- 5705-6 working with the Desoto National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri Valley, Iowa.

By the closing date of this announcement, you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation.

http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/ Although no specific amount of experience, education or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration.

To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level, and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements.

Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire.

Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated.

The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements.

The screen out element for this position is the ability to perform the work of a Tractor Operator without more than normal supervision.

This experience may include: (1) Operating tractors and equipment on level or rolling terrain in such areas as open fields, lawns, roadways, and ponds; (2) Operating auxiliary equipment and attachments such as cutter bars, plow, harrow, sprayers, discs, front-end loader, moveable dozer blades, and backhoes; (3) Performing preventative maintenance and making minor repairs and adjustments to tractors and equipment.

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. Major Duties:

This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year.

It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work.

The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year.

As a Seasonal - Tractor Operator your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Operates farm type gasoline or diesel powered tractors with attachments on flat or rolling terrain Performing several different operations including planting, cultivating, and/or harvesting of crops, mowing, and hauling.

Operates auxiliary equipment and attachments such as cutter bars, plow, harrow, sprayers, discs, front-end loader, moveable dozer blades, and backhoes.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/16/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/16/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: TS-26-12868046-KD-DE