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Water Systems Operator I

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Summary

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.

This is a bargaining unit position.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/17/2026 to 03/27/2026
Salary
$42.66 to - $51.80 per hour
Pay scale & grade
BB 00
Locations
Bullhead City, AZ
1 vacancy
Boulder City, NV
1 vacancy
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
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
PW-1547-LAKE-26-12909118-DE
Control number
861270000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Under this announcement, we are accepting applications from: 1. All United States Citizens (U.S. Citizens) 2. CTAP/ICTAP Eligibles.

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Duties

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Some of the duties you will perform include, but are not limited to:

  • Operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater systems.
  • Collection of water and wastewater samples.
  • Operate, maintain and monitor a potable water distribution system, potable water micro-filtration treatment plant, water ion absorption treatment system, and direct or indirect filtration.
  • Troubleshoot and repair pumps, valves, meters, monitors and chemical feed equipment.
  • Track work orders to include labor and materials.
  • Utilize State and Federal Regulatory Standards and Permits. Follow safety policy, standards and OSHA requirements.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, America's largest reservoir, was created by the construction of the Hoover Dam. With more than 750 miles of shoreline, you can enjoy a day at the beach, take a boat out and disappear for hours or nestle into a cove to try to catch a big one. Lake Mohave is located south of the Hoover Dam along the Colorado River in the southern end of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It's known for its abundance of sandy coves and mix of the peaceful Black Canyon and high-octane open waters. Discover Katherine Landing, this oasis located just minutes from Bullhead City, Arizona, and Laughlin, Nevada, offers generous sunshine, sparkling blue water and white sandy beaches. Spend the day picnicking, hiking or taking a boat out onto Lake Mohave. For more information on the park, select the following link: Lake Mead National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

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.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Qualifications

Requirements Continued...

  • You must possess and maintain a current Nevada or Arizona Grade 1 Water Treatment Operators Certificate AND Nevada or Arizona Grade 1 Wastewater Treatment Operators Certificate within six months or two test cycles. More information: Operator Certification | ADEQ (azdeq.gov), Operator Certification | NDEP.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home. 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.
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. Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.
  3. Operation of Water and Wastewater Systems (specify equipment, machinery, etc.)
  4. Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
  5. Use of Measuring Instruments
  6. Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (other than blueprinting reading)
  7. Dexterity and Safety
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.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

For additional information about this position please contact:
Phil Sauvey, Acting Chief of Facilities, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Phil_Sauvey@nps.gov

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 Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

Physical Demands: The incumbent should be in excellent physical and mental condition with considerable stamina to cope with the environmental conditions encountered during daily work assignments. The duties involve standing, walking, climbing, bending, operating motor vehicles/boats and strenuous physical tasks involving occasional lifting of 75 lbs. The incumbent is required to visit work sites, perform inspections or assessments of damage, and respond to emergency call outs after normal working hours. Callouts be compounded by arid conditions and extreme heat

Working Conditions: Incumbent should be agile, mentally alert, possess common sense, and have no fear of water, heights, darkness or of working alone in adverse weather conditions. Personal protective equipment must be worn when necessary (i.e., hazardous environments, confined space, fall protection) and incumbent shall attend training classes on the use of this equipment. Incumbent is required to respond to emergency call outs after normal working hours. Office duties are accomplished under normal conditions. Outside work may be accomplished in extreme windy conditions and during the summer; arid conditions and extreme heat (100+ degrees) is the norm.

Telework: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Government Housing is NOT available.

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.

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.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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 Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading)
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc.
  • Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc.
  • Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instruments

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