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Deckhand

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Voyageurs National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The primary purpose of the position is to serve as a deckhand on a vessel.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/02/2020 to 02/19/2021
Salary
$23.59 to - $27.51 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
International Falls, MN
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 Hours; The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is May - Oct, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2021
Work schedule
Intermittent
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MW-1542-VOYA-21-10962177-OC
Control number
584157400

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Duties

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As a uniformed employee with the National Park Service, the incumbent serves as a deckhand aboard the park's 49-passenger vessel, the Voyageur, a USGS approved tour boat vessel. The deckhand will work under the supervision of the boat captain and assist the boat captain with boat operations, docking procedures, and safety needs. Deckhands will be prepared for on-time departures for all trips. Deckhands will arrive on the boat 30 minutes prior to a scheduled trip to aid the captain in moving the boat to the passenger loading dock. They will assist the captain in checking safety items. They may need to spot clean and tidy up the boat prior to passengers boarding.

Deckhands will be permitted to perform other duties such as food service or interpretive programs provided that they can readily respond to their regularly assigned deckhand duties and responsibilities. During docking and undocking procedures, the first priority of the deckhand is to assist the captain. In an emergency or with a "major incident" onboard the boat, the first priority is to assist the captain in correcting the situation.

Deckhands must be fully trained and competent in:

  • Line handling and securing the boat to the dock (efficiently and quickly)
  • Docking and undocking procedures
  • Safe passenger loading and unloading
  • Passenger crowd control
  • Assisting the captain when maneuvering the boat (backing the boat from the dock)
  • Standing watch and looking for other boats or obstacles when backing the vessel
  • Use of onboard radio communications with the captain
  • Assisting in the proper stowage of gear and equipment
Deckhands will be friendly, courteous, and helpful with visitors and other boat crewmembers. Deckhands will provide visitors with correct park information and direct visitors to the visitor center for additional information when questions are asked and the answer is unknown.

Cut-off Dates: This is an open continuous announcement, in which applications are collected over several months, and have multiple cut-off dates. Applications will be considered throughout the open period of the announcement. **INITIAL CUT OFF IS Thursday, 10 December 2020** Referral certificates will be issued when a hiring official exhausts current certificate and/or additional vacancies need to be filled.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Direct Deposit: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • Incidental Driving: You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
  • Uniform: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • Work Schedule: You may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays.
  • Work Schedule: This position has an intermittent work schedule; you will be subject to call and will have no pre-scheduled work schedule.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
  • Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
  • Operation of Motor Vehicles
  • Reliability and Dependability as a Deckhand
  • Work Practices (including keeping things neat, clean, and in order)


SCREEN OUT: The ability to perform the most difficult and complex duties of a Deckhand; which includes performing a variety of work involved in the maintenance and repair of the deck and general housekeeping functions on dredges, towboats, barges, or other floating plant vessels including such duties as handling mooring lines and cables, performing light rigging and other assigned manual laboring tasks. I am considered an expert and work with a high degree of independence.

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. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer Experience: 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). 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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

Physical Demands: Work involves standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, and climbing ramps and cramped ladders, which are often wet. Work is often done standing for long periods, is subject to constant motion from movement of vessel, particularly in rough seas and/or waters. Tiring movement of the arms in controlling vessel wheel in rough seas/water. Lifting, carrying, and storing cargo is involved. Items weighing over ten pounds are lifted frequently, and cargo weighing over 100 pounds is often handled (winch assistance available in most instances)

Working Conditions: Incumbent will be inside during most under way periods, but will be out on deck to check equipment and handle lines during mooring and departure. Also, outside to operate skiff while transporting cargo and or personnel to shore. Exposed to occasional harsh winds and extremes of wind chill factors during winter operations. Exposed to hot, cramped quarters when working in engine room on checks or adjustments.
Noise and vibration on vessel's decks and bridge when underway are constant, but not at unpleasant levels. Engine room noise is loud and requires hearing protection. Some air pollution or skin hazards encountered when around fuels and solvents, when exhaust from boat blows back on vehicle and when engaged in painting. Hazardous conditions can occur when decks are pitching during high seas and/or waters, or when they are wet or have snow or ice.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

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