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High Voltage Electrician Leader (Foreman II Lineman)

Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration
Upper Great Plains Region & Desert Southwest Region

Summary

As a High Voltage Electrician Leader (Foreman II Lineman), you will provide leadership and direction for a crew of typically 5 to 11, but no less than 3, trade and craft entry level trainees and journeyman in the operation and maintenance functions of WAPA's high-voltage substations, transmission lines, associated facilities, and equipment. The incumbent is a working member of the crew and ensures that the crew's work assignments are carried out in a safe and cost-effective manner.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/21/2026 to 05/29/2026
Salary
$71.88 - $77.74 per hour

Salary varies depending on location.

Pay scale & grade
WB 00
Locations
5 vacancies in the following locations:
Yuma, AZ
Glendive, MT
Jamestown, ND
Rapid City, SD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - Travel of up to 75% annually is required; with overnight travel of 5-14 days per month on average.
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
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
26-WB-00650-12966971-IMP
Control number
870171200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is only open to current Western Area Power Administration employees on a career or career-conditional competitive service appointment.

Duties

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As a High Voltage Electrician Leader (Foreman II Lineman), you will:

  • Work with the crew to prioritize, coordinate, and complete routine work for optimum safety and operations; minimize adverse impact on landowners, the public, other agencies and customers whose activities or property may be involved; and fair utilization of personnel.
  • Develop job hazard analysis, identify hazards, and develop processes to mitigate or eliminate hazards. Conduct on-site tailgate meetings and weekly safety meetings.
  • Ensure that the crew has clear work assignments and understands what is expected of them. Provide on-the-job training in work methods and practices. Demonstrate proper work methods for crew members.
  • Participate on committees, work groups, and/or in conferences involving work projects. Consult with management on maintenance policy development, work procedures, equipment procedures, equipment operation and maintenance, type and amount of routine maintenance to be done, and type of major equipment and power tools required.
  • Ensure that appropriate reports and records are maintained and submitted to include initiating drawing revisions and upkeep of established maintenance, safety, and environmental records and reports.
  • Provide for training and/or guidance for entry-level, new, and journeyman-level workers in safety, security, environmental, power system switching, and maintenance practices, procedures, regulations, policies, and standards.
  • Erect and repair transmission/distribution power lines.
  • Inspect electric power transmission lines including steel towers and wood poles from vehicles, on foot, or from aircraft.
  • Safely operate heavy equipment used in power system maintenance, including line trucks, tractor-trailer combinations, backhoes, bulldozers, aerial lifts, trucks, wire pullers, tensioners, loaders, diggers, motor graders, cranes, crawler tractors, brush hogs, tree chippers, hydro axes, snow vehicles, and snowplows.
  • Participate in construction and repair of transmission and substation facilities, and equipment including transformers, breakers, busses, switches, and other relevant equipment.
  • Assume responsibility for assigned equipment and vehicles, ensuring they are maintained in safe operating condition and that required service and documentation are completed.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
  • 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.
  • You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
  • This position requires the ability to operate a government vehicle. The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment.
  • The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles of more than 26,000 pounds GVWR. The CDL must be obtained within 120 days of employment, or longer if outside the control of the employee.
  • The incumbent is subject to the random drug and alcohol testing program established by the Department of Energy.
  • The position requires a pre-appointment and annual physical exam at Federal expense.
  • The incumbent must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
  • The incumbent must wear Arc Rated protective clothing when in proximity to exposed energized circuits.
  • The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
  • This position may be subject to regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements.
  • This position requires the incumbent to climb transmission structures averaging 65 feet but up to 500 feet on occasion, and communication towers up to 400 feet.
  • This position requires a climbing weight not to exceed 310 pounds with all required gear and personal weight without gear not to exceed 280 pounds.
  • Security clearance and associated requirements - moderate risk.
  • Total salary varies depending on location of position.

Qualifications

Qualifications: You must have journeyman-level ability in the duties of a High Voltage Electrician Leader (Foreman II Lineman). You must meet all the qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

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. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess these elements and screen out. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the elements and screen out identified below.

The screen-out element for this position is below. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating:

  • The ability to lead or supervise trade and craft employees in high voltage substations, transmission lines, associated facilities, and equipment.

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.

"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.

PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Work under conditions of high physical demand related to climbing. Frequently required to lift items weighing over 50 pounds in order to install, inspect, and/or repair transmission lines. Climb and work aloft on structures. Work at ground level and in ground trenches where work
requires bending, stooping, climbing, and standing for long periods. Coordination of eyes, hands, legs, and body is needed in installing and repairing equipment in confined spaces and on overhead structures.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Majority of work takes place outside. Incumbent is subject to hazardous materials and extreme weather conditions. Works near high voltage lines and equipment. Work requires climbing transmission structures averaging 65 feet, but up to 500 feet on occasion, and communication towers up to 400 feet. Subject to potential for injury by contact with high voltage lines, broken bones in falls from poles or structures, muscle strains from awkward positions, and cuts and bruises when handling tools and materials. Position may require accredited nationally recognized crane certification for fixed and swing boom certification. If so, training will be provided at government expense. Work may require considerable travel requiring temporary lodging away from duty station. May occasionally perform aerial transmission line patrol and use aerial transportation to access work sites.

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.

Education

For this position, education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
  • Applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) when applying or competing for a job due to a medical condition or to exercise religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.
  • Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level.
  • The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a relocation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.
  • This position may require the incumbent to occasionally fly in a helicopter during the performance of assigned duties.
  • The position may require a tanker endorsement to the CDL.
  • The incumbent may be required to obtain and maintain the required DOE/WAPA training/certification as necessary in order to serve as a Government Purchase Card (GPC) holder. If authorized to utilize GPC for transactions exceeding $3500; the incumbent is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450), upon entering the position and annually.
  • Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location.

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.

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the scores provided from the self assessment to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified."

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

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', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.

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

  • Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Ability to Lead or Supervise
  • Ability to Use and Maintain Hand Tools (Electrical Work)
  • Ability to Use Electrical Drawings
  • Knowledge of Electrical Equipment
  • Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
  • Theory and Instruments (Electrical, Electronic) Used in Shop and Trade Practices
  • Troubleshooting (Electrical)

All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified".

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (05/29/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12966971.

Western Area Power Administration

Join the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Team - Discover Your Next Adventure!

At WAPA, we do more than keep the lights on. As part of the Department of Energy, we are a collective of innovators and problem-solvers dedicated to reliable, cost-based federal hydroelectric power.

Why WAPA?

We market and transmit wholesale electric power generated from 57 federally owned hydroelectric power plants across a 15-state region with over 17,000 miles of transmission lines. As one of the nation's largest transmission providers, WAPA brings wholesale power to market, at cost-based rates, to preference customers such as public utilities and cooperatives, municipalities, national security facilities, and irrigation districts.

Our priority is your career growth and development, with comprehensive training and professional opportunities in a supportive environment. Enjoy competitive salaries, a robust retirement plan, health benefits, flexible schedules, and a work-life balance that values your well-being.

Power Your Career with WAPA

Ready to be part of our dynamic team? Apply to our current openings and take the first step towards a rewarding career that empowers both the West and your future.

Your skills. Our legacy. A shared Future. Are you in?

Agency contact information

PMA Careers
Email
PMACareers@wapa.gov
Address
WAPA-UGP-Upper Great Plains
12155 W. Alameda Pkwy
Lakewood, CO 80228
US

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