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Control Room Operator Leader

Legislative Branch
Architect of the Capitol
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC); Office of the Chief Operating Officer; Director, Utilities and Power Plant Operations; Assistant Director, Operations Division; Rotating Operations Branch A, B, C or D. The work directed involves the safe, efficient and effective operation and maintenance of boilers, chillers, cogeneration system and associated auxiliary equipment.

Overview

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Job closed
Open & closing dates
02/17/2026 to 02/17/2026
Salary
$42.12 to - $49.17 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WL 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent, Full Time
Work schedule
Full-time - This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer civil service Competitive Status
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CPP-2026-121
Control number
857854100

Duties

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This position is emergency essential. The CPP operates around the clock to provide steam for heating and chilled water for air conditioning to the buildings of the U.S. Capitol, U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

The incumbent is required to report to work during emergencies, failure of plant machinery and equipment and during inclement weather situations to support the critical mission of the Capitol Power Plant (CPP).

The tour of duty is rotating shifts and may include weekends, evenings and holidays on a regular and recurring basis.

LEADER FUNCTIONS (25%)

As a working leader, is responsible for passing on to other workers the instructions received from supervisors and getting work started, by assigning the immediate tasks to be performed by individual members of the group led. Works alongside other workers and sets the pace, demonstrating proper work methods; ensures that needed plans, blueprints, materials and tools are available.

Obtains needed information or decisions from supervisors on problems that come up during the work.

Checks work while in progress and when finished to see whether the supervisor's instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods, quality and deadlines have been met. Urges workers to follow instructions received
from supervisors and to meet deadlines.

Completes timekeeping and administrative functions correctly and in a timely manner. Makes suggestions as needed for training to enhance employee development.

Provides feedback to Power Plant Shift Supervisors on employee performance to assist with completing semi-annual performance reviews. 

Arrives at worksite, clocks in and reports to the control room in time to receive a proper turnover briefing.

Maintains proficiency in Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedures and provides feedback on how system can be improved.

UTILITY SYSTEMS REPAIR AND OPERATIONS (35%)

Operates the electric generation, steam, and chilled water utility systems on a continuing basis.

Utilizes the plant Distributed Control System (DCS), environmental Data Acquisition and Handling System (DAHS), electric system Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and other control systems to insure operation of all plant systems within desired parameters and at the highest possible efficiency.

Utilizes portable plant instrumentation such as refrigerant and combustible gas leak detectors, infrared scanning equipment, digital thermometers, borescopes, and vibration testing equipment.

The incumbent troubleshoots to determine the causes of unusual or improper operating conditions; evaluates the situation and initiates corrective actions to prevent recurrence of improper operation or equipment failure.

Maintains all required licenses and certifications applicable to the position.

PROJECT/PROGRAM PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT (20%)

Provides clear, professional and timely communication. As required, reviews and comments on project and design documents and drawings provided to Operations by project personnel.

Conducts troubleshooting and assists the Power Plant Supervisor and Assistant in writing incident reports in a timely manner. Ensures that customer service disruption notifications are timely, professional and complete. 

Leads and directs lower grade operators and shift High Voltage Electrician to execute planned activities. Monitors the Distributed Computer System (DCS) and coordinates operations through the controls.

Observes work of lower grade WG employees to anticipate and resolve problems. Inspects completed work for quality and compliance with work order requirements.

LIFE SAFETY LEADERSHIP (10%)

Provides a workplace free of recognized hazards and provides employees an avenue to report unsafe working conditions and/or hazards. Ensures safety training and direction are provided to all watch team members.

Coordinates and executes planned LOTO and outages at the request of the Power Plant Shift Supervisor, Power Plant Assistant Shift Supervisor, and Control Room Operator Leader.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, AND PLANT CHEMISTRY (10%)

Ensures that environmental compliance and plant water chemistry are maintained within required limits at all times as in accordance with CPP operating permits. Ensures plant chemical treatment
parameters are understood and maintained at all times.

Ensures employees are knowledgeable of the CPP Environmental Management System (EMS).

Adheres to and enforce EMS program policies and procedures. 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You must be able to pass a drug test.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.

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Qualifications

You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.

You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT(S) required for this position.

  • Ability to Supervise.
  • Possession of a National Institute for the Uniform Licensing of Power Engineer (NIULPE) First Class Power Engineer License, a District of Columbia Class l Steam Engineer License of an equivalent stationary engineering license.

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.

The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.

The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies:

--Ability to Supervise.

--Knowledge of Technical Practices-Understanding and working knowledge of industrial steam generating equipment and distribution piping systems that operate at 200 psig. Understanding and working knowledge of industrial chilled water generating equipment rated at greater than 3,000 tons and distribution piping systems that operate at or below 43 degrees F.

--Ability to Interpret Instructions.

--Knowledge of Equipment Assembly and Installation.

--Troubleshooting

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).
You may preview questions for this vacancy.

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