Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to active Bonneville Power Administration employees with competitive status, currently on a career or career-conditional appointment.

As an Electrician (Control Center), you will:

• Install, adjust, maintain, and repair electrical equipment.
• Test, repair, and modify items including motors, small power tools, and other miscellaneous items.
• Assemble control or relay panels. Panels and/or server racks are drilled and instruments, switches, lights, and relays are mounted and wired according to design drawings in a shop setting.
• Install or modify existing switchboards by cutting, drilling, or mounting additional items and connecting wires as needed.
• Install or modify communication equipment by mounting or adjust antennas, reflectors, transmitting or receiving devices, emergency power supplies, and other equipment.
• Wire various control center building equipment, including equipment connect by wire and fiber optic conductors to control and communication equipment.
• De-energize and ground high-voltage equipment in order to safely complete work.
• Isolate equipment for repair or maintenance.
• Perform miscellaneous duties as assigned and incidental tasks related to maintenance of the control center.

Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Possess valid commercial driver's license (CDL) with all endorsements that are required to operate substation maintenance and construction equipment from state of residence. Possess a U.S. Motor Vehicle Operator Authorization or obtain within 30 days after appointment. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants.
• This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• This position requires a preemployment medical exam, at BPA expense, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.
• After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.
• Become fully knowledgeable of and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
• Establish a residence in accordance with negotiated requirements that is within one hour or less commuting time under normal weather and road conditions, to the duty station headquarters.
• Possess within 1 year after appointment, and maintain continuously thereafter, a First Aid Card and a CPR card.
• Possess a clearance certificate and an electrical worker's permit or obtain them within 1 year of appointment and maintain continuously thereafter.
• Be certified on aerial lift or other equipment if assigned to use or operate.
• Take First Aid refresher training, when possible.
• Subject to call for emergency work at any time.
• Drive two and four-wheel drive vehicles normally used in substation maintenance and construction (e.g., pick up/boom truck).
• Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety.
• During the first year, new hires will be required to successfully complete the Power System Electrician orientation training. This includes evaluating employees on both written and performance tests.

Qualifications

When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered.

Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.

Applicants must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations (X-118C).Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the job elements and screen out listed below. This job has a screen-out factors which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on this screen-out element(s) will be found ineligible.

The screen-out element for this position is: The ability to do the work of the position without normal supervision performing the majority of Electrician duties, including maintaining, installing, modifying, calibrating, and repairing of power generation/transmission/distribution equipment.

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

In addition to the screen-out element you will be evaluated on the following Job Elements through your resume and responses to the on-line assessment questionnaire:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability To Use and Maintain Hand Tools (Electrical Work)
• Ability To Use Electrical Drawings
• Knowledge of Electrical Equipment
• Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
• Theory and Instruments (Electrical, Electronic) Used in Shop and Trade Practices
• Trouble shooting (electrical)

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Working conditions vary depending on tasks. Most work is performed inside, but some work is performed outside in all weather conditions. Work is performed around energized equipment, such as switchboards containing critical control circuits and servers where carelessness could cause a serious system disturbance or equipment outage. Work is performed in the Control Center at various heights in excess of 8 to12 feet installing conduit, pulling cable, and working on electrical equipment, which involves working in restricted and cramped spaces (e.g., under floor work). Work may be performed at height of approximately 100 feet when working communication tower equipment. Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled, (acid, solvents, etc.). At times work may be physically demanding. The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to hazardous substances (e.g., solvents, fuel, etc.) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk.

Emergencies, critical system conditions, or outage limitations may require work at night or under serious time pressures. System priorities may require extended periods of overtime, including working weekends and holidays.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS:

• Must be physically capable of performing all work without difficulty.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Selection will be based on skills and competencies, not educational credentials or self-reported experience.

Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, your will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability To Use and Maintain Hand Tools (Electrical Work)
• Ability To Use Electrical Drawings
• Knowledge of Electrical Equipment
• Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
• Theory and Instruments (Electrical, Electronic) Used in Shop and Trade Practices
• Trouble shooting (electrical)

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (03/30/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12917092

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

• Your two (2) page RESUMEshowing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
  • Information on how to create a federal resume https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.

Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement:

• SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

If selected for the position you MUST submit: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and incentive awards, you received in the last 5 years. The assigned HR Specialist will verify review this documentation to ensure selectee has at least a satisfactory performance rating before setting the entrance on duty date. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you will be asked to submit a statement as to why it is not available.

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