Clarification from the agency

US Citizens - This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation

• Safely operates all vehicles necessary for the accomplishment of any drilling assignment in both on-road and off road situations.
• Occasionally operates specialty equipment such as a forklift or tractor mounted backhoe in day-to-day activities.
• Assists with or installs and learns the function of such subsurface instruments as piezometers, monitoring wells, inclinometers, survey control points, soil vapor extraction wells, ground water extraction wells, drains, and relief wells.
• Assists with or conducts drilling operations in a variety of climatic conditions (i.e. very hot, very cold, wet, etc.).
• Identifies safety-related deficiencies and brings these deficiencies to the attention of the appropriate personnel.
• Assists with or conducts standard penetration testing (SPT) and shelby tube sampling in accordance with the appropriate ASTM's and USACE guidance.
• Develops an understanding of controlling drilling parameters such as bit pressure, rotational speed, and rate of penetration in order to maintain borehole stability during drilling.

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Must obtain and maintain a Commercial Driver's license (CDL).
• This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement up to 90% of the time.
• 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 meets the criteria for random drug and alcohol testing position under the Department of Army Drug-Free Workplace Program as supplemented by USACE ER 690-1-1218.
• Incumbent is required to sign a DA Form 7412, Condition of Employment for Certain Civilian Positions Identified Safety-Sensitive Under the DOT, Federal Highway Administration Rules on Drug and Alcohol Testing.

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 Elements):WG-05: You must have the reliability and dependability to perform the most difficult and complex assistance of heavy equipment operation. I am skilled in simple drilling techniques under supervision. I have assisted as a helper in using drilling equipment. I have the ability to repair, operate, maintain, and perform routine repairs of a wide variety of equipment. I have spent time working outside in a variety of weather conditions. I can provide safe assistance to field operations, follow directions to prepare site prior, and load proper equipment and materials for assignments. I can troubleshoot, repair, operate, and maintain small equipment and engines. Failure to meet this Screen-out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element) WG-08: Ability to do the work of a(n) Drill Rig Operator ~ without more than normal supervision. I have the ability to perform the most difficult and complex assistance in operating a variety of drill rigs and employing complex drilling techniques. Develops an understanding of controlling drilling parameters such as bit pressure, rotational speed, and rate of penetration in order to maintain borehole stability during drilling. Develops abilities to formulate and adjust the properties of drilling fluids with a variety of additives to promote borehole stability as well as learns to recognize, understand, and control hydrostatic and hydrodynamic aquifer conditions. I am considered an expert and work with a high degree of independence. - Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

• Physical Effort: Drill rig operation work involves standing for prolonged periods, walking, bending, pushing, reaching, pulling, and lifting. Machinery control work is done in close proximity to rotating drill shaft or tool hammering operations, requiring quick reflex action to respond to drilling problems. Grade 8 drill rig operators frequently handle objects weighing 9 to27 kilograms (20 to 60 pounds) and, occasionally, tools, samples, and equipment weighing over27 kilograms (60 pounds)

• Working Conditions: Drill rig operators work outside in all kinds of weather, frequently in wet, muddy, and dirty conditions, exposed to poison growth, reptiles, and insects, and under noisy conditions. They are exposed to cuts and bruises in using tools and working around moving machinery, strains while breaking or adding joints to drive shaft, slips and falls in wet weather, and the possibility of electric shock and burns. Some operators are subject to considerable discomfort due to mud, water, grease, and from the wearing of protective devices or equipment.

How you will be evaluated

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

This is an open-continuous announcement. Referral lists may be requested to fill vacant positions throughout the life of the announcement. Cutoff for receipt of applications will be midnight CST on the date that the referral list is requested. Applications received after the first cutoff date, 15 December 2025, may be considered on future referral lists.

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.

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

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
• 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.

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