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.

The positions will fall within: Upper Great Plains Region (B5120); Rocky Mountain Region (J5000); Desert Southwest Region (G5200); Sierra Nevada Region (N5800).

As a High Voltage Electrician (Lineman) Apprentice, you will:

• Learns to inspect electric power transmission lines including steel towers and wood poles on foot, or from vehicles or aircraft.
• Learns to inspect for damaged wood poles, cross arms, grounds, and X-braces; loose bolts; broken or flashed insulators; missing or damaged vibration or spacer dampers; damaged conductors or overhead ground wires; bent or missing steel members; and missing cotter keys.
• Assists in the installation and replacement of poles, cross arms, line hardware, lightning arresters,
  fiber optic, and auxiliary equipment.
• Learns to string conductor, optical ground wire (OPGW),
  and fiber optic cable from structure to structure; assists in splicing conductor; help replace poles;
  and observes work on energized lines requiring the use of hotline tools and bare hand techniques.
• Learns to safely operate heavy equipment typically used in construction and maintenance of transmission lines, substations, and communications facilities which may include line trucks, tractor-trailer combinations, back hoes, bulldozers, aerial lifts, trucks, wire pullers, tensioners, loaders, diggers, motor graders, cranes, crawler tractors, brush hogs, tree chippers, hydro axes, snow vehicles and snowplows.
• Learns to use test equipment and specialized maintenance tools such as Hi-pot for hot stick testing, personal protective ground testers, ground resistance testers, phase-rotation meters, conductor cart, hook ladder, voltmeters, voltage detector, thermographic cameras, and ammeters.

Conditions of employment

This is an open and continuous announcement. The announcement will run for 6 months. The first certificate will be issued to the hiring manager 2 weeks from 08/21/2026 and then every month thereafter. If you are not selected or referred to the hiring manager, you will need to reapply for further consideration.

• 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.
• A Service Agreement of up to 2 years is required for this position.
• Position is subject to pre-employment and random 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.
• 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.
• The incumbent must possess upon entry into the position and continue to maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles of more than 26,000 pounds GVWR upon entry into the position. The license must NOT have the following restriction codes: L, Z, E, O.

Qualifications

Qualifications: 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:

• Select the answer that best describes your aptitude and interest for learning trade theory and practice and ability to perform simple tasks under close 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 Effor: The work is physically demanding. The incumbent frequently lifts items weighing over 50 pounds
to install, inspect, and/or repair transmission lines; climbs and works aloft on structures; and works at ground level and in ground trenches requiring bending, stooping, climbing, and standing for long periods. The position requires coordination of eyes, hands, legs, and body to install and repair equipment in confined spaces and on overhead structures.

Work Conditions: Most of the work takes place outside and is subject to hazardous materials and extreme weather
conditions. Work requires being in close proximity to high voltage lines and equipment. Work requires climbing transmission structures averaging 65 feet tall, but up to 500 feet tall, and communication towers up to 400 feet tall. The work has high 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.

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 (Lineman) positions in the 2810 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and 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 Follow Directions in a Shop
• Ability To Work as a Member of a Team
• Aptitude and Interest for Learning Trade Theory and Practice