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Public Utilities Specialist

Department of Energy
Bonneville Power Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is within Generating Assets, Generation Asset Management, Power Services, Bonneville Power Administration. Shape the future of clean energy! As a strategic program manager, you will oversee a $750M+ annual investment portfolio optimizing 31 major hydroelectric dams across three federal partner agencies. Lead cross-functional teams, modernize infrastructure practices, and ensure reliable power for millions. Bring your vision to a vital regional mission!

Overview

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Job canceled
Open date: 10/20/2026
Closed date: 10/20/2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$135,522 - $176,183 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
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
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
27-BPA-54052-13094111-MP
Control number
889416500

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Duties

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Power the Pacific Northwest: Champion Clean Energy Leadership as BPA's Senior Asset Management Program Manager

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is the backbone of the Pacific Northwest's energy economy, marketing reliable, carbon-free hydropower across the region while stewarding the Columbia River Basin. Central to this mission is the Federal Columbia River Power System-a monumental network of 31 multipurpose hydroelectric dams that sustains millions of lives, drives commerce, and protects our environment.

We are seeking a visionary, results-oriented leader to serve as our Asset Management Program Manager. In this high-visibility role, you will stand at the helm of an unprecedented federal partnership uniting BPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation. If you are ready to apply executive-level strategy, lead large-scale infrastructure investments, and shape the future of clean energy resilience, this is your opportunity to make a lasting regional and national impact.

Key Responsibilities: What You Will Achieve

Here are the eight primary duties where your expertise will drive meaningful change:

  1. Serve as Principal Advisor to Tri-Agency Executive Leadership Act as the authoritative strategic advisor to the Executive Steering Committee. You will brief agency leaders, build consensus on complex policy and funding priorities, and align shared goals across BPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

  2. Champion Modern Utility Standards and Cultural Transformation Spearhead the adoption of internationally recognized asset management standards (such as ISO 55000). You will guide organizational change across all three agencies, elevating work practices, risk frameworks, and sustainability models to world-class benchmarks.

  3. Orchestrate Multidisciplinary, High-Impact Teams Lead and inspire diverse coalitions of engineers, economists, operations analysts, project managers, and field facility managers. You will foster a culture of cross-functional collaboration, ensuring complex technical projects are delivered with precision.

  4. Architect Long-Term Lifecycle Strategies for 31 Major Clean Energy Facilities Establish comprehensive lifecycle maintenance and reinvestment strategies for 31 major hydroelectric plants, switchyards, and auxiliary facilities. Your vision will ensure these critical assets meet peak energy demand and maintain reliable service for decades to come.

  5. Drive Operational Efficiencies and Accelerate Technology Adoption Lead cross-agency benchmarking and peer reviews to eliminate performance gaps. You will actively evaluate emerging power technologies, smart-grid tools, and predictive maintenance solutions to reduce lifecycle costs and maximize system performance.

  6. Design the Strategic Roadmap, Policies, and Governance Framework Assess organizational capabilities, establish tri-agency governance policies, and execute a multi-year development roadmap. You will develop modern decision-making processes, operational guidelines, and specialized training programs to build long-term institutional strength.

  7. Represent the Pacific Northwest on National and Industry Stages Serve as a prominent ambassador with national energy working groups and respected industry bodies (such as the National Hydropower Association and CEATI). You will integrate national best practices into regional operations while positioning our partnership as a model for federal utility stewardship.


This position is located in Portland, OR which boasts huge spans of amazing trees, foliage, landscape, and everywhere you look you can appreciate beautiful greenery! It is known as the most bike-friendly city in America, has a train system that greets you at the airport spanning across the city, and is home to the Portland International Rose Garden, the oldest in the country! Portland is the one place where you will find lively festivals, energetic music, mouthwatering food, and for you basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers are a 7 minute walk from the HQs building! There is always something new to experience in this eco-friendly town!

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.

When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

Key Requirements:

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.
Conditions of Employment:
  • Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
  • This position has been designated as requiring a PUBLIC TRUST background. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level [GS-13] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) analyzing, planning, and supporting lifecycle asset management, capital investment, or operations and maintenance (O&M) programs for hydropower generation facilities, switchyards, or utility infrastructure; and 2) collaborating with multi-disciplinary or interagency teams to evaluate program performance, benchmark industry best practices, and develop recommendations regarding asset management policies, budgets, or strategies.

"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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy

Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans
Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register

Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment.

We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.

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.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, you will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration.

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

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Non-competitive Procedures: If you are applying under a non-competitive or special hiring authority, you will still be required to answer the assessment questions. However, you will not be evaluated against the rating and ranking criteria.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you are minimally qualified for this job. Veterans' Preference will be applied when required by the hiring authority (e.g., VRA, Schedule A).

All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion and VEOA 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", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date ( 10/29/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13094111.

USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Bonneville Power Administration

We are truly honored that DOE has been named America's #1 Best Employer for Veterans in 2023 by Forbes-not only among Government agencies, but among employers across the U.S. We are so proud of this ranking which reflects our commitment to the employment of veterans. As so many veterans at DOE renew their service to our Nation, we are deeply committed to their success and advancement. Veterans shape the future of energy

The Bonneville Power Administration is a nonprofit federal power marketing administration based in the Pacific Northwest. Although BPA is part of the U.S. Department of Energy, it is self-funding and covers its costs by selling its products and services. BPA markets wholesale electrical power from 31 federal hydroelectric projects in the Northwest, one nonfederal nuclear plant and several small nonfederal power plants.

Agency contact information

Gena Vaughan
Phone
360-947-5342
Email
glvaughan@bpa.gov
Address
Bonneville Power Administration
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at Bonneville Power Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

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