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There are several High Voltage Electrician (Maintenance) positions available with Bonneville Power Administration in different locations throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. A successful candidate in this position will perform installation and adjustment (construction) or maintenance and repair (maintenance) of electrical equipment in Substations. The construction aspects of a High Voltage Electrician task include erection of new facilities or removal of old facilities. The maintenance aspects include routine inspection, modification, troubleshooting, and repair of facilities. Equipment serviced may be electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, and/or electronic. High Voltage Electricians work from sketches, drawings, blueprints, wiring diagrams, and instruction books. Normally, a High Voltage Electrician will perform either construction or maintenance tasks. However, the employee may be required to perform any duty of the craft concerning electrical equipment in substations. The High Voltage Electrician usually reports to a High Voltage Electrician Foreman but occasionally may work independently. The High Voltage Electrician performs all duties in compliance with government regulations, BPA safety rules, and the BPA-CPTC Collective Agreement.

As an Electrician you will:
- Maintain and repair (maintenance) major electrical equipment in substations. When equipment fails, perform emergency repairs.
- Perform diagnostic testing to inspect parts and equipment.
- Perform work in shops on equipment components including bushings, motors, small power tools, etc. Assemble, install, and modify control and relay panels for substations.
- Assemble and erect steel racks and towers to support equipment.
- Install and change antennas, reflectors, transmitting or receiving devices, emergency power supplies, and other equipment located in microwave or radio stations.
- Take clearances and perform switching to isolate a piece of equipment for repair.
- Install ground mats, conduit, duct, and trench systems.

Conditions of employment

• 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.
• This position requires a valid driver's license as a condition of employment.
• 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 pre-employment medical exam, at BPA expense, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.
• If exposed to health hazards, have periodic physical examinations as prescribed by competent medical authority at BPA expense.
• 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.
• Possess a valid state driver's license at the time of employment. Once employed the incumbent will also be required to provide proof of a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) with all endorsements that are required to operate substation maintenance and construction equipment from the state of residence within 120 days after appointment. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants.
• Be certified on aerial lift or other equipment if assigned to use or operate.
• Subject to call for emergency work at any time.
• Drive two and four-wheel drive vehicles, which may include towing various equipment trailers, normally used in substation maintenance and construction.
• 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

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) or who do not score at least half of the total points possible across all elements will be found ineligible.

"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.

This position has a selective placement factor, failure to meet this requirement(s) will result in an ineligible rating.

• Must possess a current valid U.S. motor vehicle operator's license from state of residence.

Working Conditions: Working conditions vary depending on tasks. Most work is performed outside in all weather conditions, but some work is done inside under normal shop conditions. Work is performed around energized equipment, such as switchboards containing critical control circuits where carelessness could cause a serious system disturbance or outage. Work is done in energized Substations at various heights in excess of 100 feet, such as on steel framework, platforms, and ladders adjacent to energized high-voltage equipment. The Electrician must frequently work on surfaces which are slippery due to insulating oil or ice. Installing conduit, pulling cable, working in oil circuit breaker (OCB) tanks, etc., involves working in restricted and cramped quarters. Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled (oil, acid, and solvent fumes, etc.). At times, work may be physically demanding. The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to hazardous substances (i.e., mercury, acids, solvents, PCB's, etc.) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk. Potential exposure to radiation could occur if assigned to work at the WNP2 plant (Ashe and Hanford). Emergencies, critical system conditions, or outage limitations may require that work be systemwide, done at night or under serious time pressures. System priorities may require extended periods of overtime including working weekends and holidays.

Physical Effort: Able to climb and work at various heights, averaging 40 feet, rarely to 100 feet, such as on steel framework, platforms and ladders adjacent to high-voltage equipment. Requires good balance while climbing ladders and structures such as transformers toperform repair duties and while hanging grounds. Balancing required on narrow and slippery surfaces at heights and in varied weather conditions, as well as on uneven terrain. To operate trucks and equipmentand to climb ladders. Must be able to work from ladders and other aerial equipment. Ability to stand an average of 2 hours, with a maximum of 3-4 hours uninterrupted. Walks an average of 2 hours; alternate standing/walking up to a maximum of 8 hours, some of which may be on uneven, slippery, surfaces and rough terrain. Lifts tools and equipment. Average is10-20 lbs. Positions 100-110 pound nitrogen and oxygen bottles and 200-pound SF6 gas cylinders from rack to cart (usually two persons assist with this) on daily basis.Ability to raise, lower and maneuver up to 30 pounds utilizing a pole 20 feet or more in length. Installs conduit and pulls cable. Pushing/pulling while assembling bolts and parts. Works in cramped, awkward positionswhile working from buckets, in manholes or confined spaces, etc. Works with arms overhead or occasionally outstretchedfor extended periods of time. May crouch for long periods when working in confined spaces or while wiring or working on pumps. Frequent kneeling to access and test equipment and wire. Tasks vary based upon whether position is engaged in maintenance or construction activities.

As part of the application process, you must complete and submit an online occupational questionnaire. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provide in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before each cut-off date, 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.

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 scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).

If you are a Veteran Preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

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

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

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

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)

Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

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 scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (08/07/2021) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11185310