Clarification from the agency

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Current DOE employees are not eligible under this Direct Hiring Authority.

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As an Electrician (Construction), you will:

• Installing and adjusting major electrical equipment. Major equipment items are power transformers and gas, oil, or air-insulated power circuit breakers. Installation and adjustment tasks include erection of equipment by putting components together. Components mounted on transformers include bushings, conservators, radiators, fans, pumps, recording instruments, and load tap changers.
• Maintenance and Repair of major electrical equipment. All major electrical equipment in substations is serviced by Electricians on a regular schedule.
• Control and Relay Panel Assembly. Panels are drilled and instruments, switches, lights, and relays are mounted and wired according to design drawings in a shop setting for installation in Substations in the field.
• Switchboard installation. Prewired relay and control panels are added to switchboards in Substations.
• Communications equipment installation. These tasks involve mounting or adjusting antennas, reflectors, transmitting or receiving devices, emergency power supplies, and other equipment located in microwave or radio stations.
• Steel structure erection. Racks and towers to support electrical equipment in Substations are assembled by Electricians.
• Ground mats, conduit, duct and trench system installation.
• Taking clearances. To safely work on high-voltage equipment, it is necessary to properly deenergize and ground it according to switching procedures in the Accident Prevention Manual.
• Perform switching. At times an Electrician will be required to isolate a piece of equipment for repair or maintenance at dispatcher's discretion.

Under the Employee Referral Bonus program, certain BPA employees may be eligible for a monetary award for referring outside candidates for this difficult-to-fill position. The referring employee must complete the form BPA F 33300.01e and email it to careers@bpa.gov by midnight of the closing date of the job posting.

Conditions of employment

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.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• 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.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Become fully knowledgeable of and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
• Possess within 1 year after appointment, and maintain continuously thereafter, a First Aid Card and a CPR card.
• Possess a clearance certificate and an electrical worker's permit or obtain them within 1 year of appointment and maintain continuously thereafter.
• Possess a valid state driver's license at the time of employment. Once employed the incumbent will also be required to provide proof of a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) with all endorsements that are required to operate equipment from the state of residence within 120 days after appointment. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants.
• Be certified on aerial lift or other equipment if assigned to use or operate.
• Take First Aid refresher training, when possible.
• Subject to call for emergency work at any time.
• Drive two and four-wheel drive vehicles, which may include towing various equipment trailers.
• Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety.
• During the first year, new hires will be required to successfully complete the Power System Electrician orientation training.
• This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• This position requires a pre-employment medical exam, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.
• After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority if exposed to health hazards.
• This position requires 100% travel to field sites (substations).

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. This job has a screen-out factors which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on this screen-out element(s) or who do not score at least half of the total points possible across all elements will be found ineligible.

The screen-out element for this position is: The screen-out element for this position is: The ability to successfully perform the work of a High Voltage Electrician is defined as having performed a significant portion of duties such as: 1} installing, testing, maintaining, or modifying electrical distribution equipment, switchgear, transformer banks, or substations; 2) working with power systems or heavy industrial electrical facilities; 3) and installing and terminating cabling, controls, or communications cabling supporting power distribution or
industrial control networks at 11,000 to 500,000 volts. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

In addition to the screen-out element you will be evaluated on the following Job Elements through your resume and responses to the on-line assessment questionnaire:

• 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
• Trouble shooting (electrical)

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.

Please do not cut and paste the "Duties" section, specialized experience statement, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

"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.

Working Conditions: Work is performed under the direction of an Electrician Foreman. The degree of supervision depends on the tasks being performed and the working conditions. Less hazardous conditions require minimum supervision. Guidance in the form of operating instructions and the Accident Prevention Manual is available. The Electrician is responsible for good work practices and for completion of tasks in a manner which will insure personal safety, the safety of the crew, and minimize equipment damage or failure and interruption of service. Overtime work to meet the needs of system reliability will be required. Documents work performed, noting existing conditions and any special circumstances. Reports all accidents, including near-misses, to the Foreman. May write reports or memorandums. Occasionally the Electrician directs other Electricians, Electrician Helpers, Oil Filter Operators, and Apprentices. The Electrician is also responsible for providing guidance in the form of training apprentice Electricians and other journeyman Electricians in the skills of the trade. Electricians are accountable for government-owned assigned personal property. They are also responsible for the proper care of tools, vehicles, and other work equipment that they use. Electricians must comply with all relevant aspects of management directed activities such as programs for the handling and disposal of hazardous waste material.

Physical Requirements: Essential Functions (those duties encompassed in a job which are indispensable and comprise the gist or substance of the job):

• Installs and adjusts (construction) major electrical equipment such as power transformer and gas, oil, or air-insulated power circuit breakers; instrument and station service transformers, disconnect and circuit switches, protective devices, static capacitors, batteries and charges.
• Maintains and repairs (maintenance) major electrical equipment in substations. When equipment fails, performs emergency repairs.
• Performs diagnostic testing to inspect parts and equipment.
• Performs work in shops on equipment components including bushings, motors, small power tools, etc. Assembles, installs, and modifies control and relay panels for substations.
• Assembles and erects steel racks and towers to support equipment.
• Installs and changes antennas, reflectors, transmitting or receiving devices, emergency power supplies, and other equipment located in microwave or radio stations.
• Occasionally takes clearances and performs switching to isolate a piece of equipment for repair.
• Conduit and trenches for equipment are installed under the service yard. Cables are pulled through the conduit.
• Completes associated documentation required of the above listed tasks.
• Drives 20-25% of the time in all-weather conditions.

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.

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 qualifications above.

This position is being announced under a Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) approved for the Department of Energy for the 2810 series. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.
After applications have been reviewed by Human Resources to determine if all identified selective placement factors are met, a multiple hurdle assessment approach is being used to evaluate candidates:

A cut score has been established based on the minimum proficiency required for this position's series and grade. You must meet or exceed the cut score to advance to the second hurdle in the process. If you score below the cut score or fail to complete the test, you will not be considered further. Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the demonstrated ability to perform the duties associated with the screen-out factor and job elements listed in the Qualifications section of the announcements. SMEs will review your two (2) page resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the hiring process.

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' or 'not qualified'.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the Qualification requirements listed in this announcement to be referred for consideration.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/15/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13106820