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.

As a High Voltage Electrician (Lineman) Journeyman, you will perform the following duties:

• Erect and repair transmission/distribution power lines.
• Inspect electric power transmission lines including steel towers and wood poles from vehicles, on foot, or from aircraft. Inspect for damage to wood poles, cross arms, grounds, X-braces, loose bolts, broken or flashed insulators, missing or damaged vibration dampers, damaged or missing spacer dampers, damaged conductors or overhead ground wires, bent or missing steel members, and missing cotter keys.
• Maintain records of deficiencies either on patrol sheets or electronically.
• Install and replace steel towers, wood poles, cross arms, line hardware, and auxiliary equipment. String conductor, and optical ground wire (OPGW) from structure to structure; splice conductor; and work on energized lines requiring the use of hotline tools and bare hand techniques.
• Climb transmission structures averaging 65 feet, but up to 500 feet on occasion, and communication towers up to 400 feet.
• Safely operate heavy equipment associated with power system maintenance. Heavy equipment may include line trucks, tractor-trailer combinations, back hoes, bull dozers, aerial man lifts, trucks, wire pullers, tensioners, loaders, diggers, motor graders, cranes, crawler tractors, brush hogs, tree chippers, hydro axes, snow vehicles and snowplows normally used in construction and maintenance activities of transmission line, substation and communication facilities.

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 period.
• Possess a valid state driver's license at the time of employment.
• 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 hiring organization will work with you on obtaining your CDL.
• Must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
• Must wear Arc Rated protective clothing when in proximity to exposed energized circuits.
• 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.
• If you are tentatively selected for this position, you will be required to have a physical examination that will determine whether you are qualified to perform the duties of the position. An offer of employment will depend upon your successfully passing the physical examination.
• Personal maximum weight may not exceed 280 pounds at time of appointment. Personal weight will be determined at the time of physical examination and final job offer will be contingent upon verification that individual's weight does not exceed this amount.
• This position requires completion of an annual medical examination at Federal expense.
• You will be required to possess a pair of fully-encased safety-toed footwear meeting the standard ASTM F 2413-05 upon reporting to work.
• This position may require regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be required on short notice to include nights, holidays and weekends in support of related mission requirements.

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. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess these elements and screen out. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the elements and screen out identified below.

The screen-out element for this position is below. Failure to meet this screen out element will result in an ineligible rating:

• Ability to do the work of a journeyman lineman constructing and maintaining transmission (69KV and higher) or distribution power lines and related equipment independently without more than normal supervision.

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.

Working Conditions:
Majority of work takes place outside. Is subject to hazardous materials and extreme weather conditions. Work in close proximity to high voltage lines and equipment. Work requires climbing transmission structures averaging 65 feet, but up to 500 feet on occasion, and communication towers up to 400 feet. Subject to potential for injury by contact with high voltage lines, broken bones in falls from poles or structures, muscle strains from awkward positions, and cuts and bruises when handling tools and materials. Position may require accredited nationally recognized crane certification for fixed and swing boom certification. If so, training will be provided at government expense. Work may require considerable travel requiring temporary lodging away from duty station. May occasionally perform aerial transmission line patrol and use aerial transportation to access work sites.

Physical Effort:
Work under conditions of high physical demand related to climbing. Frequently required to lift items weighing over 50 pounds in order to install, inspect, and/or repair transmission lines. Climb and work aloft on structures. Work at ground level and in ground trenches where work requires bending, stooping, climbing, and standing for long periods. Coordination of eyes, hands, legs, and body is needed in installing and repairing equipment in confined spaces and on overhead structures.

This public notice may be used to fill multiple positions as needed; therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are reviewed.

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 (Lineman) Journeyman 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

If you are eligible for career transition assistance, such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the Education and Qualification requirements to be referred for consideration.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (12/31/2024) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12404203