Clarification from the agency

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

As a High Voltage Electrician (Lineman), some of your duties will include but are not limited to:

• Erects power lines consisting of supporting structures, conductors, insulators, and auxiliary equipment. Replaces or installs poles, cross arms, insulators, line hardware, guys and anchors, overhead ground wire, braces, dampers, lightning arrestors, transformers, bird wire, and other auxiliary substation equipment.
• Strings conductors from structure to structure, clamping or tying to insulators, with or without armor rod, in such a manner as to maintain proper sag. Splices wire or conductor when broken and reinstalls.
• Operates and/or uses and maintains all types of equipment and tools common to the utility trade including, but not limited to, multiple-drive vehicles, bull dozers, truck-mounted augers, compressors, winch trucks, truck/trailer combinations, bucket and/or crane or boom trucks, truck-operated winch, and digging tools.
• Works on energized lines (up to 161-kV) requiring the use of safety devices such as, but not limited to, hot line tools, rubber gloves, and mats.
• Performs other duties as required in the daily work, which may include such items as patrolling lines; digging pole and anchor holes; back filling; banking poles; cutting brush, weeds, and trees; and repairing roads, bridges, fences, and gates along rights-of-way.
• Investigates, as requested, transmission line equipment failures/interruptions, diagnosing problems and determining possible remedies (troubleshooting).
• Contacts are with agency personnel, officials and employees of other Federal agencies, and external customers including landowners, contractors, linemen, and representative s of private utilities and like organizations. The purpose of the contacts is to plan, coordinate maintenance and construction work efforts, exchange information, or to resolve operating problems. Contacts are usually working toward mutual goals and generally have cooperative attitudes.

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.
• Position is subject to random drug testing.
• You must pass pre-employment drug testing.
• You must pass pre-employment medical examination.
• Security clearance and associated requirements - Moderate Risk.
• The incumbent is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• 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 require regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be required on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements.
• The incumbent is subject to Telephone Calls and/or Emergency Callouts, outside of normal scheduled workdays to support system restoration and/or emergency response. The duties of this position may require the incumbent to respond to mission critical and/or emergency situations that may occur within SWPA's maintenance areas.
• This position is designated as Emergency Essential.
• All external-to-SWPA employees hired after October 1, 2010, shall reside within a one (1) hour response time from the employee's duty station upon entry into the position. All internal-to- SWPA employees competing for and accepting this position while residing more than one hour response time away from the duty station must reside within one hour response time from the new duty station within 6 months of the entrance-on-duty date for this position.
• This position requires the ability to operate a Government vehicle. The incumbent must be 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.

Qualifications

Qualifications: You must have journeyman-level ability in the duties of a High Voltage Electrician (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:

• Ability to do the work of a journeyman lineman constructing and maintaining transmission or distribution power lines (69KV or higher) and related equipment independently without greater than normal supervision.

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 Demands:
The work requires physical exertion such as heavy lifting and carrying (up to 100 pounds) over rough terrain, i.e., one end of an assembled 34-foot cross arm or a string of suspension insulators. Frequent pulling and or pushing, often from awkward positions, i.e., dinging and un-dinging suspension insulators while in hooks, requiring the use of both legs; climbing wooden poles using climbers and steel towers with steps or step bolts while wearing gear weighing approximately 35 pounds, requiring the use of both legs; frequent use of hands and fingers requiring the use of both hands and all fingers; moderate walking over rough terrain, stooping and kneeling, and standing for long periods.

Work Environment:
The work environment involves high risks, with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress, such as working with high-voltage electrical equipment (.001 volts to 161,000 volts as general criteria), in remote, outdoor field locations with rough terrain; and exposure to various weather conditions, wind, dust, brush, insects, and occasionally poisonous snakes; and emergency situations at all hours of the day and any day. Position may require accredited nationally recognized certification for fixed and swing boom cranes, aerial man-lifts, and/or material handling equipment. If so, training will be provided at government expense. The general public will be encountered, who may object to aspects of the projects. Travel to and lodging at remote locations is frequently required. Travel is by motor vehicle, aircraft, or other means of transportation.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for High Voltage Electrician (Apprentice, Helper, Journeyman, Leader, and Supervisor) positions in the 2810 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.

Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• 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)