High Voltage Electrician (Craftsman-in-Training)

Clarification from the agency

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

The Craftsman-in-Training Program is designed to train, appraise, and develop craftsmen as they progress through various stages of an occupation to become fully competent journeymen. The standard length of time in the program for each trainee is two (2) years. The 2-year program consists of four levels, with 6 months at each level.

At the full performance (journeyman) level, you will:

• Install, construct, commission, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair equipment in high voltage switchyards, substations, communication facilities and power operations centers.
• Substation station service systems, station grounding systems, alternating current. and direct current distribution and control system wiring, terminate, splice, direct bury high voltage cable up to 34.5 kV.
• Safely operate vehicles up to 10,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) and vehicles of larger GVWR rating as required by the job location. Heavy equipment associated with substation maintenance may include utility trucks, skid steers, trenchers, tractor-trailer combinations, back hoes, aerial man lifts, loaders, diggers, cranes, snow vehicles and snowplows normally used in construction and maintenance activities of transmission line, substation and communication facilities.
• Construct and commission new substations, stage additions, or infrastructure replacements or additions.
• Perform switching in high voltage substations and switchyards. May receive clearances and hotline orders.
• Operate and maintain oil processing equipment such as oil filtration pumps, auxiliary oil heating units, oil degasification units, cryogenic or refrigerated moisture traps.
• Climb substation equipment and structures.
• Provide technical guidance and training to apprentices and to other craft employees.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• A Service Agreement of up to 2 years is required for this position.
• This position requires the ability to operate a Government vehicle. The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment.
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles of more than 26,000 pounds GVWR. The CDL must be obtained within 120 days of employment, or longer if outside the control of the employee.
• The incumbent must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
• The incumbent must wear Arc Rated protective clothing when in proximity to exposed energized circuits.
• The incumbent is subject to the random drug and alcohol testing program established by the Department of Energy.
• The position requires a pre-appointment and annual physical exam at Federal expense.
• The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
• This position may be subject to regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements.
• This position requires the incumbent to climb structures averaging 65 feet in height.
• This position requires a climbing weight not to exceed 310 pounds with all required gear and personal weight without gear not to exceed 280 pounds.
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally fly in a fixed wing aircraft or helicopter during the performance of assigned duties.
• The position may require nationally accredited crane certification for fixed and/or swing boom cranes. If so, training will be provided at Federal expense.

Qualifications

You must meet one of the following requirements (screen out factors) for the CIT program:

• Have completed a 4-year apprentice program in a related craft.
• Are, or have been, employed by Western Area Power Administration as a journeyman in a craft occupation.
• Hold, or have held, a journeyman level (i.e., level achieved by at least 4 years of training) in a related craft.

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.

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.

"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.

Physical Effort:
Active climbing, lifting, working in strained positions. Work from ladders, scaffolds, and man-lift devices. May work from substation's support structures which requires the use of appropriate fall protection equipment. Install and repair equipment in confined and enclosed spaces. Regularly lift and carry items weighing 50 pounds or more.

Working Conditions:
Be able to wear protective apparel (such as respirators, steel-toed footwear) when required for worker safety. Work is both inside and out-of-doors with exposure to hazardous materials and the possibility of electric shock, falls, bruises, cuts, burns, strains, and inclement weather. May be required to fly to work sites by either fixed wing aircraft or helicopter. Work may require considerable travel requiring temporary lodging away from the duty station.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for High Voltage Electrician positions in the 2810 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.

Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

Successful candidates will possess 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
• Troubleshooting (Electrical)

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

• Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the 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).
• 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.

Next steps

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