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Motor Vehicle Operator

Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Summary

This position is located is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, approximately 60 miles west of Washington, DC. The ideal candidate will possess a current Class B CDL license w/ P&H endorsement & have experience operating and maneuvering passenger motor coaches/vehicles up to 32,000 lbs.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 06/10/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 10, 2026
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$29.02 - $33.82 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 7
Promotion potential
8
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional Non-Emergency Travel may be required.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
FEMA-DL-12971735-MP
Control number
870809000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Individuals who do not meet the requirements shown below may apply under FEMA-DL-12971736-DE, which is open to the public. This Job is open to: Status Candidates; DRRA Eligibles; Former Overseas Employees; CTAP; ICTAP; VRA; VEOA; 30% Disabled; Schedule A; Military Spouses; Peace Corps; Americorps; Vista; Land/Base Management; Boren Awardees; and Interchange Agreement Eligibles.

Duties

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All MWEOC staff have emergency assignments and are considered deployed in place. Exercises and activations are planned and unplanned, and may require long hours, nights, weekends and holidays.

All MWEOC employees are: (1) required to use a government-issued electronic device (to include cellular phones); (2) subject to recall during emergency situations; and (3) required to perform work in locations both above and below ground.

What will I do in this position if hired?

In this position, you will serve as a Motor Vehicle Operator. Typical assignments include:

  • Operating vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GWR) of more than 32,000 pounds, as well trucks, tractors with trailer, truck and trailer, motor coaches, shuttle vans, pickup trucks or sedans and aircraft refueling vehicles.
  • Coupling and uncoupling trucks and trailers, connects and disconnects the brakes and electrical lines.
  • Maneuvering vehicles with close tolerances when driving and backing over uneven ground or in narrow and congested areas between buildings and other vehicles at the loading docks and may have to maneuver vehicles around parked aircraft.
  • Performing operator maintenance on motor vehicles such as assisting in the arrangement of cargo to spread the load to ensure the proper unloading sequence, monitoring fluid levels, replacement of air filters, interior lights, tire pressure checks, etc.
  • Providing customer service to MWEOC employees and visitors for response to a variety of questions to customer concerns or issues.

What else do I need to know?

At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management. Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Promotion Potential: Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo, successfully pass, and maintain a background investigation for a Top Secret clearance as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check after initial job qualifications are determined, a review of financial issues, such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs (please visit: Mythbuster on Federal Hiring Policies for additional information). For more information on background investigations for Federal jobs please visit OPM Investigations.

Please ensure you meet the qualification requirements described below.

Key Requirements:
  1. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  2. You must successfully pass a background investigation.
  3. Selective Service registration required.
  4. Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
  5. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government credit card.
  6. You must be able to deploy with little or no advance notice to anywhere in the United States and its territories for an extended period of time.
  7. Please review the Additional Information section for additional key requirements.

Qualifications

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standard. Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must meet any screen-out element listed, and 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.

Working Conditions: Drivers operate vehicles in all types of traffic and weather on public roads (or the equivalent) and are exposed to the danger of serious accidents. They drive in heavy traffic and at highway speeds over complicated road and interchange systems.

Physical Effort: In addition to the physical effort described at the grade 6 level, drivers at this level exert moderate physical effort in operating, turning, backing, and controlling vehicles which carry heavier loads or larger numbers of people than vehicles at the grade 6 level.

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.

NOTE: Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. For a brief video on How to Create a Federal Resume, click here.

Current or former FEMA Reservists/Disaster Assistance Employee (DAE): To accurately credit your experience for these intermittent positions, make sure to list the dates (from MM/YY to MM/YY) of each deployment, along with the job title and specific duties you were responsible for during each deployment. Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification.

Education

No Educational Substitution: There is no educational substitution for this position, and you must meet the qualifications listed in the "requirements" section of this announcement.

Additional information

  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
  • The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to FEMA-Misconduct@fema.dhs.gov.
  • DHS uses E-verify, an internet based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
  • The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
  • A one-year probationary period is required for new Federal competitive service employees and new supervisors and managers.
  • Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
  • During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
  • This is a Non-bargaining Unit position.
  • This position has been identified as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) because of its security, public health, and/or public safety sensitivity, you are subject to random drug testing under FEMA's Drug-Free Workplace Plan (DWP). Refusal to be tested will result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.
  • You are required to possess and maintain a valid Class (B) Commercial Driver's License with Passenger (P) and Hazmat (HME) endorsements issued in their state of residence, with endorsements to operate truck tractors and trailers, up to and including 44 passenger buses, and vehicles with air brake systems.
  • You must pass a pre-employment and annual or bi-annual physical, depending on health condition.

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use your responses to the job questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education, and training. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

SCREEN OUT FACTOR:

  1. Ability To Do the Work of a Motor Vehicle Operator without more than normal supervision.

JOB ELEMENTS

  1. Operation of Motor Vehicles.
  2. Work Practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order).
  3. Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation).
  4. Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles).
  5. Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle).
  6. Reliability and Dependability as a Motor Vehicle Operator.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures). View information on VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP/CTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (see "Required Documents" section of this announcement). Well-Qualified is defined as those applicants who are rated with a minimum score of 85.00 for this position.

After FEMA completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components. During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.

Interview Requirement. Interviews may be required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removed from further consideration.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

FEMA is calling all problem-solvers, relationship builders, and humanitarians! FEMA is a mission-driven, people-focused Agency. Our mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters. We coordinate with other federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to make sure America is equipped to prepare for and respond to disasters.

Everyday FEMA employees are inspired by that mission and are working tirelessly to make a difference.

The Mt. Weather Emergency Operations Center (MWEOC) is a unique FEMA facility which plays an important role in building a culture of preparedness and readying our Nation for all-hazard events. In performing this role, the MWEOC provides a wide array of support to its Mission Partners in classified and unclassified operating domains, both above and below ground.

Come join us in a rewarding career where you can help make our nation safer, stronger, and more prepared! Visit www.careers.fema.gov for more information.

Agency contact information

Douglas Lewis

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Federal Emergency Management Agency, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.fema.gov/careers

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