Major duties of a Lineman include:

• Performs construction and maintenance work (including hot line maintenance) on either wood pole or steel tower lines including excavations and footings, framing and erecting towers and poles, hanging insulators and hardware, and stringing, sagging, and clipping conductor.
• Replaces or repairs damaged steel towers, wood poles, crossarms, and conductors; relocates towers and poles; inspects and treats wood poles; and replaces insulators.
• Performs, or occasionally supervises, right-of-way maintenance work such as brush and weed control, cutting or topping danger trees, seeding cover crops for erosion control.
• Repairs access roads and installs or repairs bridges, culverts, fences, and gates.
• Maintains microwave towers, antennas, and airway lighting installations; performs maintenance tasks in substations, involving overhead line work and other tasks requiring the use of line maintenance equipment.
• Patrols transmission lines and reports conditions of lines.
• Takes clearances and occasionally performs switching at unattended substations and line sectionalizing disconnect switches.
• Completes associated paperwork and completes reports required of the above listed tasks.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• 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. (Requirement for Maintenance crews only).
• Extended periods of travel may be required.
• If exposed to health hazards, have periodic physical examinations as prescribed by competent medical authority at BPA expense. (Employees will work in close proximity to substances such as solvents, PCB’s, chemicals, etc., which may have effects on health unless prescribed handling procedures are followed.)
• Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
• Possess valid First Aid Card, CPR Card, and an electrical worker’s permit or obtain within 30 days after appointment.
• Possess valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) with all endorsements that are required to operate TLM motor vehicles and equipment from state of residence.
• Subject to call for emergency work at any time.
• Obtain certification on the equipment associated with line maintenance if assigned to use or operate.
• Obtain certification as a flag person.
• Apply restricted use pesticides, and, at the discretion of the Manager, may be required to obtain a pesticide applicators’ permit. The Administration shall provide the necessary training for such a permit.
• Become certified to take a clearance within 30 days after reporting for duty.
• Occasionally, fly in a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft in the performance of assigned duties.
• Must pass drug testing prior to appointment.

Qualifications

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 Lineman (High Voltage Electrician, BB-2810-00) position is:

Element 1: ABILITY TO PERFORM THE WORK OF A LINEMAN WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION. (SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT. Failure to meet this requirement 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:
Element 2: Knowledge of electrical equipment.
Element 3: Theory and Instruments (Electrical, Electronic) Used in Shop and Trade Practices.
Element 4: Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic).
Element 5: Ability To Use Electrical Drawings.
Element 6: Ability to Use and Maintain Hand Tools (Electrical Work).
Element 7: Trouble shooting (electrical).

"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.

NOTE: Applicants must possess a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) with all endorsements that are required to operate U.S government owned and leased vehicles and equipment. If selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your non-employment driving abstract dated within the last 90 days, and covering the previous 36 months. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants.

Physical effort: Work is physically demanding, may require working under stress in hazardous situations, may need to climb poles (average 65 feet, maximum 110 feet) and towers (average 100 feet, maximum 535 feet) in all weather conditions at least 4 to 6 times per day; lifts tools and equipment that weighs about 30-50 pounds; pulls equipment and tools from ground to pole/tower utilizing hoists and rigging; work in awkward positions on equipment, towers, and poles; pulls hoist lines with various loads weighing up to 80 pounds; extends arms frequently overhead and reaching to perform repairs; needs to crouch and kneel for extended periods of time; provide clear, accurate communication, receive verbal directions/ use/hear telephone & warning devices & abnormal noises; able to detect various gases by smell; and have spatial ability/depth perception/night vision/color discrimination/distant binocular acuity of 20/40 or better.

Working Conditions: Requires the ability to perform effectively under stress for extended periods of time in hazardous situations; work may involve working alone and possibly in isolated locations; Required to work outside in all weather conditions. Exposure to loud noises and hazards of working around high voltage equipment. May need to work with chemicals such as solvents, oils, fluids, and lubricants. Required to wear safety protection (hearing protection, respirators, safety glasses, hard hats, knee pads, insulated rubber or leather gloves, fall protection, and other protective clothing as needed).

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

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

As part of the application process, you must complete and submit an occupational questionnaire. 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure you have been placed into the appropriate quality category.

Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (when applicable), and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position at the grade level(s) being advertised.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 80 or better.

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.
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