Clarification from the agency

Bonneville Power Administration employees with competitive status, currently on a career or career-conditional appointment. Apprentices in the last year of the program are encouraged to submit an application to indicate duty locations for which they want to be considered for permanent placement.

As a Electrical Utility Carpenter Foreman III, you will:

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Assign Duties. Plan and schedule work assignments to insure maximum use of resources and achievement of priority work within guidelines established by the Manager for General Craft Services.
• Maintain Discipline. Establishe standards of performance and conduct of employees supervised. Insure compliance with administrative regulations, procedures, and working rules. Sets an example of diligence, pride of accomplishment, and good conduct, and requires the same from subordinates.
• Enforce Safety Rules. Instruct subordinate in safety rules and safe work practices, including proper use of tools and equipment, safe driving techniques, fire prevention, evacuation procedures, and general housekeeping practices. Responsible for organizing and conducting regular safety meetings. Insure that work areas are free of hazards and that subordinates follow safe work practices as prescribed by regulations, laws, and standard shop practices. Investigate all accidents involving persons under own jurisdiction. Complete required reports accurately and completely.
• Review and Inspect Work. Review and inspect work of subordinates to insure complete and professional workmanship.
• Responsible for Quantity and Quality of Work Performed. Is responsible and accountable to the supervisor for the satisfactory completion of all specific tasks involved in the work performed in the Ross Carpenter Shop, including at field locations.

Planning & Scheduling:

• Coordinate work schedules with Production Control to assist them in planning and scheduling shop orders. Prepare time estimates for shop orders. Assist Production Control in ordering materials. May work with contractors to meet workload requirements.
• Recommend and evaluate purchase of new tools and equipment required to maintain high standards of quality and efficiency.

Administrative:

• Review Employees' Performance and Recommend Personnel Actions. Continuously evaluates employees' performance and initiates proper actions to provide job satisfaction, improve working skills, resolve employee problems, develop team spirit, and improve employee conduct. Recommend personnel actions to the Manager for General Craft Services.
• Identify, Plan, and Implement Training. Orient new employees to the work unit and explains nature and purpose of work programs. Provide on-the-job training and recommends off-the-job training to improve subordinates' skills and efficiency.
• Reports and Records. Prepare and forward required documents relating to time, leave, per diem, work progress, materials, field purchases, and equipment. Report problems to the Manager for General Craft Services relating to work, materials, safety, or personnel when these are of a nature requiring action by higher authority or referral to other offices of the Administration. Report all accidents directly to the Manager for General Craft Services. Account for all tools and equipment in custody.

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.

• First time supervisors will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• 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. (Employees will work in close proximity to substances such as acids, solvents, or PCB's which may have effects on health unless prescribed handling procedures are followed.)
• Apprentices in the last year of the program are encouraged to submit an application to indicate duty locations for which they want to be considered for permanent placement.
• Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
• Possess a valid First Aid Card. Take First Aid refresher training, when possible.
• Obtain a valid restricted non-electrical worker's permit.
• Subject to call for emergency work outside normal hours.
• Possess a valid driver's license from state of residence. Possess a U.S. Motor Vehicle Operator Authorization or obtain within 30 days after appointment. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants.
• Operate motor vehicles, including sedans, pick-up trucks, vans, or flatbed trucks.
• Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety.
• Possess within one year and maintain continuously thereafter, an asbestos certification/license.

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 this position is: The ability to lead or supervise to accomplish works and trades in carrying out work and assignment including to fabricates from wood and related materials, items specified by drawings or instructions including concrete forms, specialized buildings, loading docks, and ramps, and crates for secure movement and safe handling of electrical and related equipment. Install equipment fabricated from wood, concrete for footings, fences, curbs, sidewalks and installs oil containment drainage systems, manholes, utility vaults, and other related concrete work.

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:

• Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading)
• Ability To Lead Or Supervise
• Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.
• Knowledge of Materials
• Measurement and Layout
• Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)

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.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The principal hazards include working around machinery with moving parts, climbing around energized, high voltage electrical equipment, climbing on ladders, scaffolding and steel structures, and exposure to grease, oil, dust, intensive heat, cold, and constant noise.
• The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to hazardous substances (i.e, acids, solvents, PCB'S, etc.) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk.
• Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled (oil, acid, etc.).
• 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.

"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.

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

Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.

How you will be evaluated

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

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 determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your resume and self-assessment to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

You may preview the online assessment questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12858525

Selection will be based on skills and competencies, not educational credentials or self-reported experience.

Semi-Annual Rating/Ranking:

Semi-annual rating/ranking will be conducted in February and July for the following craft positions:

• Electrician Foreman I, II, and III (Maintenance and Construction)
• Lineman Foreman I and III
• Chief Substation Operator III

NOTE: Applications for the above positions must be received by no later than 11:59 p.m. (EST) February 8, 2026 to be included in the February 2026 semi-annual rating/ranking process. Bid applications received between February 9, 2026 and June 30, 2026 will be rated/ranked by subject matter expert (SME) panel during the July 2026 semi-annual rating/ranking period. Bid applications received between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026 will be rated/ranked by subject matter expert (SME) panel during the January 2027 semi-annual rating/ranking period.

Bid Applications submitted for positions not included in the semi-annual rating/ranking schedule will be rated/ ranked by SME panel only after a manager's request to fill the position is received in BPA's HR Service Center, Recruitment and Placement workgroup, HA-1.

Applications that are rated/ranked must receive a rating of "best qualified" (transmuted score of 80, or higher) to be referred for hiring consideration. Those who received a "best qualified" rating will retain this ranking for up to five (5) years from the date of rating. Applicants must submit a new annual bid list application each year during the 5-year rating period to receive consideration for each year.

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'.