Braker-Switcher (Fork Lift Operator)

• Maintain constant watch over assigned area and equipment, checking continually for operating hazards, malfunctioning or defective equipment or track obstructions.
• Receive, store and assemble conventional ammunition and ammunition components.
• Dispatch locomotives and control movement of railroad freight cars by issuing written and verbal switching, train, and individual car movement orders to crews.
• Give, pass, and respond to signals and instructions in both routine and emergency situations.

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position meets the criteria for compliance with Federal and Department of the Army Drug Free Workplace Programs. Detection of the presence of drugs is warranted. This position is subject to a pre-employment screening and random testing.
• This position is a Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban commonly referred to as Lautenberg Amendment. This act bans individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence and certain others from possession or access to firearms or ammunition.
• This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
• This position requires you to obtain and maintain an installation fork lift operator license.
• This position requires you to obtain and maintain a valid state and installation's government operator's permit.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) Braker-Switcher (Fork Lift Operator) ~ without more than normal supervision. Must possess the ability to perform common complex duties identifying the operating characteristics of one or more types of locomotives when pulling a variety of types and sizes of cars and cargo under various weather conditions, visual conditions and track conditions. I can judge braking and stopping distances for locomotives. I use proper signals or equipment, such as arms and hands, lanterns, light, or flags, and various signal coeds and proper techniques to give signals.- Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Incumbent uses considerable physical agility and effort during rail operations in pushing, pulling, lifting, positioning, and turning various braking, switching, and coupling devices, e.g. draw bars; moving and lifting arms and devices to give signals; walking over rails and ties and running over safe areas to perform tasks; and climbing aboard locomotives and train cars, sometimes while they are moving or have slippery steps, rungs, and grab irons. May be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds or put forth similar effort in pushing and removing obstacles from the railway. All lifts over 50 pounds will be assisted with a two person lift or using a mechanical handling equipment lifting device. The two person lift limit is 100 pounds and will only be used for single event, non-routine lifts.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Incumbent works under many adverse conditions in both good and bad weather and is frequently exposed to conditions such as: - Loud noise from operating train, train whistle and horn; - Fumes and odors, such as those from diesel exhaust and creosote; - Possible injury from accidental slipping and falling while working and walking over ties, railway slopes, rails, and while boarding, walking upon, and getting off both standing and moving trains; Possible injury from coupling and uncoupling devices and air brake hoses; - Possible injury from motor vehicles or railway vehicles and from train derailment or other accidents. Incumbent must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and/or clothing, such as ear plugs, safety glasses, steel toe boots and gloves and follow numerous safety procedures and requirements to offset some adverse conditions and avoid accidents or injury.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.

As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

• Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
• Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.

2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable

NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

Next steps