Power System Dispatcher (Technical Writer)

Clarification from the agency

This position is only open to current Western Area Power Administration employees on a career or career-conditional competitive service appointment.

As Power System Dispatcher (Technical Writer), some of your duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Analyzes, defines, and coordinates implementation of new or upgraded facility additions to ensure they are properly integrated within the WAPA system.
• Reviews and coordinates modifications, as necessary, to contracts, written agreements, operating plans, operating procedures, and other documents impacting the operation of WAPA's resources and transmission facilities.
• Serves as subject matter expert or compliance liaison for the power system operations department. Maintains strict compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Orders; NERC standards; and DOE/WAPA policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• As needed, serves as a liaison between WAPA and external entities. Maintains associated documentation for demonstrating power system operations compliance required by NERC standards. Serves as a subject matter expert on industry teams within NERC, regional entity, WAPA and other organizations. Serves on incident review team for the investigation of miscues, switching errors, and/or operating incidents.
• Coordinates the resolution of operational issues within WAPA and between WAPA and other entities. Formulates, reviews, and distributes power system operating policies, procedures, and guidelines.

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.
• 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.
• In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.
• Position is subject to random drug testing.

• You must pass pre-employment physical and drug testing.
• Security clearance and associated requirements.
• Shift work and emergency overtime may be required.
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• This position is designated as Emergency Essential and the incumbent will be considered as mission essential personnel.
• NERC certification must be obtained within eleven (11) months of start date.
  
  

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

To qualify for the AD-5/GS-13:

Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the AD-04/GS-12 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service which demonstrates experience in at least 3 of the 4 listed below:

• Developing and maintaining technical processes and procedures.
• Providing technical guidance and support to real-time system operations.
• Assisting in the study and evaluation of proposed operation of power plants and other studies and calculations related to safe, efficient operation of the power system.
• Reviewing and updating system drawings, diagrams, operating guides, and other operating instructional and statistical documents related to the activities of power system operations.

Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. SMEs will review ONLY the first two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Only applicants meeting or exceeding the minimum required level of proficiency will move forward.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the scores provided from the SME resume review or USA Hire Assessment to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified."

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

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.

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

• Compliance
• Technical Competence
• Writing

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 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).
• Current Federal employees: Most recent non-award SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility.
  • Full position title;
  • appointment type;
  • occupational series;
  • pay plan, grade, and step;
  • tenure code; and
  • service computation date (SCD).
  • If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive status and highest grade held on a permanent basis. . If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility.

• Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
• 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.

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