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Small Craft Operator (Whitewater Boat Operator)

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

Summary

This position is a Small Craft Operator (Whitewater Boat Operator), WG-5786-06, located in Grand Canyon National Park, in the Administrative River Operation Division.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
07/10/2024 to 07/23/2024
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$24.26 to - $28.29 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 6
Location
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon, AZ
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Career Seasonal (subject to periods of non-pay)
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IM-1541-GRCA-24-12472872-DE
Control number
799059500

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Duties

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Major Duties:

  • Operate of 18 to 37-foot motorized rafts and 18-foot inflatable (rowing) rafts on a river while caring for the safety and needs of river mission participants.
  • Safely performs river vessel, equipment, and passenger shuttles to include vessel launching as needed.
  • Participate and assist in Search and Rescue Operations related to river incidents.
  • Navigate vessel in whitewater on a Class 1 through 10 scale and varying weather conditions from calm to high winds, icing spray, and high or low water.
Area Information:
This position is stationed at Grand Canyon National Park at the South Rim located in Northern Arizona. The South Rim is located approximately 60 miles north of Williams and 82 miles Northwest of Flagstaff at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Temperatures range from approximately 90 degrees in the summer to 0 degrees in the winter. Annual precipitation averages around 13 inches.

Grand Canyon Village has schools K-12, a daycare center, post office, general store, churches, a recreation center with gym, a public library, a clinic with resident physicians, and several restaurants. The park community consists of some 2,500 people, including employees of the NPS and concessionaires and their family members. There are often employment opportunities for family members in the park and surrounding areas. The park community is small enough that many employees choose to walk or bike from their homes to work. Complete shopping, educational, medical and professional services are available in Williams and Flagstaff. Flagstaff has a population of about 75,000 and has multiple K-12 public and private schools, Northern Arizona University, and diverse community, medical and other support services. Recreational opportunities include hiking, backpacking, fishing, cross-country and downhill skiing, and golfing in nearby communities.

South Rim Housing: Permanent and Term employees with a Full Performance Level (FPL) of a GS-09 or WG-8 and above will be provided the option of accepting assigned housing, participating in the normal bid system, or accepting shared housing. Permanent and Term employees with an FPL of GS-08 or WG-7 and below may be provided the option of participating in the normal bid system or accepting shared housing. Any employee assigned to shared housing may continue to bid into non-shared housing. Government housing may be available.

Additional Information:
This is a Career-Seasonal position and subject to release and recall procedures. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. Selectees will be in a non-pay/non-duty status for at least 2 weeks to 6 months per year based on project requirements or weather conditions. Selectees are guaranteed to work at least 13 pay periods not to exceed a maximum of 24 pay periods per year, with the work schedule to be determined upon appointment. The typical season is mid-January to mid-December but can be variable during these months due to project requirements or weather conditions.

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.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • Employee will be required to obtain and Maintain Wilderness First Responder and Coconino County AZ Food Manager Course
    certifications.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • If you are a new employee in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 15 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • Government Charge Card: You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Qualifications

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

  1. Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision. (SCREEN OUT)
  2. Operation of Motor Vehicles
  3. Work Practices (including keeping things neat, clean, and in order)
  4. Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
  5. Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)
  6. Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
  7. Reliability and Dependability as a Small Craft Operator (Whitewater Boat Operator)
Selective Placement Factor (Screen Out): You must have direct experience with operating 18 to 37-foot motorized rafts and 18-foot inflatable (rowing) rafts through rivers with Class 1 to 10 whitewater on the Colorado River (Grand Canyon). If you do not have this experience, you will not be considered or referred to the hiring official.

To qualify, there is no specific length of training or experience required; however, your resume must demonstrate enough experience to show your ability to perform the duties of a Small Craft Operator (Whitewater Boat Operator) without more than normal supervision. Examples of such experience include: (1) operating 18 to 37-foot motorized rafts and 18-foot inflatable (rowing) rafts through rivers with Class 1 to 10 whitewater; (2) interpreting charts and maps of local areas and of unfamiliar areas on and off the river; (3) determining whether or not to operate in certain adverse weather conditions and hazardous white-water conditions; (4) maintaining trip log and other required records and reports.

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.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

Physical Demands: Uses heavy effort to row/guide/motor the boat on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. Coordination of hand, eye and boat are absolutely necessary to direct the raft in extreme white-water conditions. Rows an inflatable rubber raft through hazardous rapids for 3 to 12 hours a day for 12 to 30 days at a time. Lifts heavy (exceeding 70 pounds) objects while loading and unloading boats one or more times a day. Standing, stooping, bending, kneeling and climbing ramps and ladders are involved. Work is often done standing for long periods and is subject to constant motion from movement of vessel, particularly in rough white water. Movement of the arms in controlling the tiller in rough water is tiring. Lifting, carrying, and storing cargo is involved. Items weighing over ten pounds are lifted frequently, and cargo weighing over one hundred pounds is often handled with help from other crew members.

Working Conditions: Incumbent will experience exposure to temperatures from 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer to sub-freezing during winter trips. Climate is generally dry, but summer storms occur frequently, and it may snow on the river missions during the winter. Incumbent will be drenched by river water, approximately 48 degrees Fahrenheit year-round at any time, while on the river. While rafting the river the incumbent will experience hazardous/difficult rapids, resulting in violent tossing and turning. Will work at altitudes between 2000 feet to over 7000 feet. Incumbent will be outside during all vessel operations and will be exposed to standing for long periods while underway. Noise and vibration on vessel when underway are constant. Noise from engine when engine is running is loud. Hearing protection is recommended and provided. Hazardous conditions can occur when decks are pitching during rough water operations, or when they are wet with ice or rain. Possible injuries including bruises or broken bones from getting on and off the boat when the near shore conditions are always wet and slippery possibly muddy. Contacts are with supervisors and managers in the unit for which the boat operations are performed, staff specialists at higher echelons, other employees, agencies, vendors, consultants, etc.

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.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)
  • 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 Small Craft Operator
  • Work Practices (including keeping things neat, clean, and in order)

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