Deckhand Job in Cleveland, OH

Vacancy No. CERE259544009393HW Department U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Salary $28.10 to $32.82 Grade 6 to 6
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/19/2025 Close Date 9/2/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Cleveland, OH


Summary

About the Position: Serves as deckhand aboard District Floating Plant to include survey boats, survey vessels, tugboats and crane or derrick barges engaged in maintenance of waterways. Responsible for proper handling of mooring or towing lines, safe operation of deck equipment.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens.

Duties

  • Handles and fastens mooring and towing lines during docking, mooring and departure operations.
  • Ensures that lines are properly tied to docks or floating plant which tug is tending.
  • Operates engines or winches controlling anchor or deck equipment.
  • Performs general vessel maintenance duties and keeps boat in ship shape condition.
  • Maintains, repairs, cleans, and paints the deck, hull, superstructure, and storage areas.
  • Prepares surfaces to be painted by removing old paint utilizing tools and methods of choice or those assigned.
  • Operates auxiliary launch or other small boats engaged in surveying or other maintenance operations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position requires Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) over 25% of the duty time.
  • Work may involve long periods of standing, lifting, climbing, and walking. Work requires sustained physical effort when washing, scrubbing, cleaning and painting surfaces and while handling lines, making and breaking tows.
  • This position requires a pre-employment physical examination and be enrolled in the medical surveillance program that requires annual physical examinations.
  • This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing.
  • This position functions as a floating Deckhand. Short notice may be necessary in identifying a need at another location.

Qualifications

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of DoD to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: Serves as deckhand aboard District Floating Plant to include survey boats, survey vessels, tugboats and crane or derrick barges engaged in maintenance of waterways. Responsible for proper handling of mooring or towing lines, safe operation of deck equipment. Although based at the Area Office, this position is required to support operations of the District Area of responsibility and will be required to travel to wherever the floating plant is required to perform Operation and Maintenance activities.

This position is located at: US Army Corps of Engineer, Operations and Regulatory Division, Operations Branch, Ohio Operations and Maintenance Office, Repair Fleet, Cleveland, OH.

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) Deckhand without more than normal supervision. Ability to handle mooring and towing lines during docking, mooring and departure operations. Operate engines or winches controlling anchor or deck equipment including attachments for cranes, hooks, chains, and slings on falls. Perform light rigging. Use standard signals to signal crane operator for placing loads. Perform general vessel maintenance duties and keep the boat in ship shape condition. Make general repair aboard the vessel to include repairs to machinery and equipment. Operate auxiliary launch or other small boats. Follow safety and health requirements for operations aboard vessel, preventive maintenance checks and services of deck equipment and safely operate all deck equipment. - Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

  • PHYSICAL EFFORT: Physical effort is required in the handling of heavy equipment, and machinery. The incumbent frequently stoops, climbs, and reaches for objects. The employee handles light objects of 10 pounds or less and often handles 25-40-pound objects. Work may involve long periods of standing, lifting, climbing, and walking. Work requires sustained physical effort when washing, scrubbing, cleaning and painting surfaces and while handling lines, making and breaking tow.
  • WORKING CONDITIONS: Workers are exposed to paint fumes and are subject to cuts and bruises while working with equipment and making machinery repairs in a cramped or confined machinery space. There is also exposure to eye injuries while chipping paint and rust. Duties require working inside and outside. Subject to falling overboard and hazards attending moving plant; also changes in weather condition.

Additional information

  • 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 trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a background investigation.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • This is a(n) 24 Career Field position.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees.
  • This is a seasonal position. Seasonal employment means annually recurring periods of work that typically last six months each year, but may vary depending upon the needs of management. Employees are placed in a non-duty, non-pay status in the off-season and recalled to duty the following work season. Seasonal employees are eligible to receive the same benefits offered to full-time employees.
Temporary Appointment Not To Exceed (NTE) - Position may be filled as a Temporary Appointment NTE (1) Year. Temporary appointments may be extended up to a maximum of three (3) years.
Current, Permanent Army employees that are eligible and would like to be considered for a time-limited promotion, reassignment or change to lower grade not to exceed (NTE) (1) Year will need to apply to Announcement # CERE259544009390IMP.

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.

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.

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. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

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

Required Documents

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 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
  • 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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/02/2025 to receive consideration

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12779393).
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Address
RE-W2SM05 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-BUFFALO
DO NOT MAIL
Buffalo, NY 14207
US

Next steps

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking (as applicable) for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.


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


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