Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Power Plant Operator Technical Assistant. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Clark County, Nevada

This is a temporary opportunity.

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

This temporary opportunity is open to current Career and Career Conditional Bureau of Reclamation employees within the local commuting area (50-mile radius) of Hoover Dam, located in Clark County, NV.

Videos

Duties

Power Plant Operator (Technical Assistant) Duties:

• Operates control boards, exciters, disconnects, power circuit breakers, load and voltage control equipment, and signal systems at all locations.
• Operates high and low tension disconnect switches and places and removes protective tags/locks in all substations, switchyards, and generating stations.
• Operates all equipment in the powerhouses, central section, dam, and associated structures as directed by the Control Center Operator including starting, stopping, synchronizing, and condensing generators; transmission line breakers; 120/480/2400VAC station service switchgear and lighting systems; large gates and valves to maintain proper river flow and for watering or unwatering penstocks, scroll cases, and draft tubes; transferring lubricating and transformer oil; draining and filling transformers, generator unit bearings, and governor oil systems.
• Performs periodic inspections of switchyards and associated equipment including bus structures, wave traps, insulators, motor operated disconnects/circuit interrupters, bushings, power circuit breakers, and air compressors; turbines, generators, and associated equipment such as valves, bearings, exciters, lubricating pumps, and governors; greasing systems; domestic water systems; and air system equipment.
• Monitors and adjusts equipment in a safe, efficient, error free manner as required to meet plant operational needs.
• Completes operating reports, duty sheets, and assigned preventative maintenance tasks.
• Assumes an active role in the Operations Training Program to ensure Powerplant Operator Apprentices and other personnel receive proper technical training in the control systems and all other plant equipment.
• Develops, updates, and maintains all Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams. This will be completed by adding, deleting, and revising the system databased as required.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.

You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.

You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).

You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).

You must submit a performance appraisal if you are a current or former federal employee. (See Required Documents).

You must live within 50 miles response time from official duty station.

You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.

Individuals selected may be subject to working 12 hour rotating shifts to include swing shift, graveyard shift, holidays, and weekends.

Who May Apply:

• Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive)
• Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive)

Qualifications

Your application materials must demonstrate sufficient experience and training to perform the duties of this position without more than normal supervision. Qualifications will be determined on the basis of information submitted within your resume and responses to the assessment questions. For information about qualifications for Federal Wage System positions please, visit OPM.

Minimum qualifications for trades and labor positions are determined by evaluation of job elements. You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all the job elements to be considered qualified for this position. This is not a trainee position - your resume must reflect experience as a journey level operator - Journey level is defined as 4 years or more of experience OR completing a 4-year apprenticeship in power generation OR at least 6 years of military experience in power generation such as that in a power plant or engine room setting.

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.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 05/23/2024.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

This is a TEMPORARY opportunity - this temporary opportunity is expected to last up to 1 year; management may cancel this temporary opportunity earlier than 1 year OR may extended it up to 4 years. After this temporary opportunity is over, the selectee will be placed back into their position of record at their regular salary rate.

You may be required to serve an initial probationary period.

This position is not suitable for telework.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

This is a bargaining unit position represented by a Union.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and submitted documents, if applicable, to ensure your meet the basic qualification requirements. HR will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in the assessment questionnaire. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 40 minutes to complete. Applicants determined best qualified will be referred to the selecting official.

You will be further evaluated on the following Job Elements through resume content and your responses to the application questionnaire:

Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision, Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading), Dexterity and Safety, Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc., Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc., Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic), and Use of Measuring Instruments

The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12418422

Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), you could be rated ineligible, or your score could be lowered.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  Please submit the supporting documents outlined below applicable to your claimed eligibility status and the position and grade to which you are applying. Failing to submit required documents will result in non-consideration due to an incomplete application package.
  
  RESUME: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience must include dates of employment including start and end dates (month and year), work schedule (full-time or part-time), and hours worked per week. For more information, click here.
  
  PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act/achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. Current/Former federal employees that fail to submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal will have their application marked as incomplete.
  
  FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Competitive Service current and/or former federal employees eligible for Promotion, Reassignment, Transfer, Reinstatement, etc. You must submit a copy of their SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which the applicant is claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old). For more information, click here. Do not submit an award SF-50.
  
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  
  Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 05/23/2024. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.
  
  Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  
  
  Jennifer Santiago
  
  Phone
  
  702-293-0000
  
  Email
  
  jsantiago@usbr.gov
  
  Address
  
  Lower Colorado Basin
  
  Bureau of Reclamation
  
  PO Box 60400
  
  Boulder City, NV 89006
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.
  
  After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting document(s) will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume, application questionnaire, and other assessment criteria identified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Please submit the supporting documents outlined below applicable to your claimed eligibility status and the position and grade to which you are applying. Failing to submit required documents will result in non-consideration due to an incomplete application package.

RESUME: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience must include dates of employment including start and end dates (month and year), work schedule (full-time or part-time), and hours worked per week. For more information, click here.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act/achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. Current/Former federal employees that fail to submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal will have their application marked as incomplete.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Competitive Service current and/or former federal employees eligible for Promotion, Reassignment, Transfer, Reinstatement, etc. You must submit a copy of their SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which the applicant is claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old). For more information, click here. Do not submit an award SF-50.


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 05/23/2024. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.

Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.

Agency contact information



Jennifer Santiago

Phone

702-293-0000

Email

jsantiago@usbr.gov

Address

Lower Colorado Basin

Bureau of Reclamation

PO Box 60400

Boulder City, NV 89006

US

Next steps

Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.

After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting document(s) will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume, application questionnaire, and other assessment criteria identified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Criminal history inquiries
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request