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Public Utilities Specialist

Department of Energy
Bonneville Power Administration

Summary

Join the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Power Services (P), Power Scheduling Coordination (PTK), Power Contract Administration and Settlements (PTKC) organization! We're seeking a Public Utilities Specialist to lead crucial energy contract management and environmental compliance reporting for long-term power sales and purchases. If you're ready to drive significant impact in public utilities and shape the future of energy, this leadership role is for you!

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/16/2026 to 03/25/2026
Salary
$114,684 to - $149,091 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Portland, OR
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-BPA-50439-12911196-BPA
Control number
861187500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to active Bonneville Power Administration employees with competitive status, currently on a career or career-conditional appointment.

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Duties

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This position is within the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Power Services (P), Bulk Power Marketing (PT), Power Scheduling Coordination (PTK), Power Contract Administration and Settlements (PTKC). We are seeking an expert Public Utilities Specialist who will play a pivotal role in leading critical energy contract management, ensuring compliance, and driving essential environmental attribute reporting. This is a unique opportunity to influence regional energy markets and advance BPA's commitment to sustainable power resources and reliable grid operation for the Pacific Northwest.
We are looking for highly qualified individuals eager to make a significant impact. Your expertise will be crucial in these key areas:

  • Lead Expert in High-Value Energy Contracts: Drive the administration of complex, long-term energy sales and purchase agreements, serving as a key expert within a vital team responsible for powering the region.
  • Strategic Regulatory Influence: Collaborate with leaders and other experts to shape responses to critical regulatory and legal reviews, directly impacting BPA's wholesale market activities and ensuring compliance.
  • Technical System Stewardship: Guide the technical development and integrity of essential contract management systems, ensuring robust data and operational excellence that underpins our energy transactions.
  • Data-Driven Decision Empowerment: Create and leverage data analytics tools to provide crucial insights, monitor performance, and inform strategic decisions across the organization.
  • Pioneering Policy Integration: Stay at the forefront of evolving energy policies and market regulations, integrating new rules into long-term contract administration and environmental reporting frameworks.
  • Compliance Leadership: Direct environmental attribute (e.g., greenhouse gas) reporting to state and regional agencies, ensuring BPA's adherence to regulatory obligations.
  • High-Impact Communication & Advocacy: Lead communication efforts, presenting complex contract administraion and regulation information to executives, customers, and external stakeholders, fostering understanding and collaboration.
  • Team Leadership & Mentorship: Guide and mentor contract administration staff, fostering expertise and ensuring the seamless execution of complex projects, helping others grow their skills.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.

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.

Key Requirements:

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.
Conditions of Employment:
  • Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) performing administrative and technical tasks for long-term power sales, purchases, or similar utility service contracts to ensure compliance with contract terms; and 2) using data systems to track contract activities, develop reports for performance monitoring; and 3) supporting the implementation of energy market policies or environmental attribute reporting. This experience would typically be in or related to the work of the position to be filled and equivalent to the next lower grade level.

"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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

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

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE
EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy

Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans
Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/

Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register

BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment.

We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.?

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.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

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

Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, your will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


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 having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (03/25/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12911196

USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

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