DECKHAND Job in Norfolk, VA

Vacancy No. CERD250230878639HWF Department U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Salary $24.04 to $28.05 Grade 6 to 6
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/26/2025 Close Date 9/4/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Norfolk, VA


Summary

This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will NOT be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants should review the "How to Apply" section of this flyer for more information on how to be considered. This flyer will be used as positions become available. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer.

Duties

  • Serve as a deckhand of floating plant to include derrick boat, crane barge, patrol vessels, and survey vessels.
  • Perform lookout watches and assist the Captain of the vessel with navigation duties as prescribed in the US Coast Guard navigation rules.
  • Serve as a laborer during waterfront construction activities constructing new or renewing piers, docks, dolphins, bulkheads, and other structures.
  • Assembles rigging (cables, ropes, pulleys, winches, blocks, and sheaves according to weight and size of load to be moved) to lift and move loads (nav aids, obstructions, scientific and engineering equipment, etc.)
  • Maintains vessel inventory and develops shortage lists of necessary supplies and equipment.
  • Maintain the floating plant's machinery and metal structures to include interior and exterior of the vessel by performing routine inspections.
  • Performs maintenance on bilges, machinery, equipment, and tools
  • Assist with a variety of tasks that include removing hazards to navigation (navigation, aids, trees, vehicles, floating debris), hydrographic surveys, and other environmental and engineering missions.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • Incumbent will be required to have and maintain a valid state driver’s license prior to being hired.
  • Incumbent will be required to obtain and maintain an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) license for the operation of motorboats less than 26 feet within one year of being hired.
  • Incumbent will be enrolled in the Hearing Conservation program and must undergo pre-employment, annual and pre-termination audiograms. (Per NAOSA DFs dtd 31 May 84 and 2 Aug 84).
  • Incumbent will be required to obtain a CLASS I crane operator certification for floating crane within one year of being hired.
  • Incumbent will be required to obtain and maintain a current physician’s certification, dated within the past 2 years that the operator is physically qualified to operate cranes.
  • Temporary duty may be required within the state of Virginia to respond to emergencies.
  • This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 25% of the time.
  • Incumbent will comply with safety regulations, occupational safety/ health standards and other safety directives and orders to include wearing personnel protective equipment/ respirators, hearing and fall protection, and personal flotation devices.
  • This position is covered by the Army Drug Testing Program and requires annual and random drug and alcohol testing. Incumbent is required to be screened under the Department of Army Drug-Free Workplace Program as supplemented by USACE ER 690-1-1218.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a Deckhand without more than normal supervision.
  • Perform common hull maintenance and clean, sweep, mop decks and bulkheads, and maintain floating plant machinery and metal interior and exterior structures.
  • Prepare vessels for movement and assemble rigging to lift and move loads.
  • Safely operate various tools and equipment such as chainsaw, hammers, circular saw, jigsaw, drills, pike pole, deck crane, winch, and davits.

Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

Physical Efforts: Incumbent required to lift 50 lbs and sustain strenuous physical effort when operating a chainsaw (20 lbs); deploying and retrieving scientific and surveying equipment (50 lbs) over the side of a boat; loading and unloading supplies and equipment from other vessels, barges, and land; washing, scrubbing scraping, cleaning and painting surfaces; and handling lines. Work requires long periods of standing, lifting, climbing, and walking on a moving platform (such as a skiff or boat) and on rugged terrain.

Working Conditions: Work is performed inside and outside and is subject to extreme weather conditions to include high temperatures, high humidity, low temperatures, high winds, and heavy precipitation. Incumbent is exposed to hazards such as cuts, bruises, loud noises, burns from moving machinery, equipment and tool operations, breaking cables, falls, slippery and tilting surfaces, Hazards that are present when performing duties are from moving machinery; loud noises from equipment/tool operations; breaking cables; slippery and tilting surfaces, climbing up and down stairs and ladders, strains in lifting and pulling, eye injuries from chipping paint and rust, exposure to dust, fumes, and heat; and possibility of drowning or falling overboard. Work is performed on boats that operate in various sea conditions that cause the boat to rock back and forth and incumbent is required to continue to perform duties. Areas on vessels are confined and require climbing ladders and entering and exiting through hatches and port holes that are 15 inches in width.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • This announcement uses the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce direct hire authority to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to certain positions in the competitive service.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • One year probationary period may be required.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • This is a Career Program (CP) 24 - Transportation and Distribution Management position.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
  • Information may be requested regarding the vaccination status of selectees for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols. For more information, visit https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation.

If, after reviewing your rsum and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.

If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.

Required Documents

Your complete application includes your resume and other documents which prove your qualifications and 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 may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
  • 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 qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you may not receive consideration for this position.
  • For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • This position requires a job-related license or certification. You MUST submit a copy of your license or certification with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
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.

How to Apply

Interested Applicants must submit resumes/application packages to: John.E.Payne@usace.army.mil

Please send your resume and all supporting documents via email with the following subject line: "LAST NAME-DECKHAND, XF-5788-06 (RPA 023087)"

To apply for this position, you must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Alternate applications (e.g., facsimile applications) will not be accepted.

The complete application package must be submitted to the email address provided above by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/04/2025 to receive consideration.

Agency contact information

John Payne
Address
RD-W2SF03 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-NORFOLK
DO NOT MAIL
Norfolk, VA 23510
US

Next steps

Eligible applicants will be referred to the hiring manager. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews.

Acknowledgement and Notice of Results letters will be sent by the hiring office.

The evaluation will be based on the information you provide. You should expect that we will verify performance, suitability, and security information and take that information into account in making employment offers.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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