Irrigation System Operator

Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Superintendent, Colorado River Agency in Poston, Arizona.

Recruitment incentive may be authorized at Managements discretion, a Service Agreement will be required for approved incentives.

This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Federal employees - Competitive service
  
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
  
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Individuals with disabilities
• Land & base management
  
  Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
• Military spouses
• Native Americans
  
  Native Americans or Alaskan Natives with a tribal affiliation.
• Special authorities
  
  Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Current or former career or career-conditional Federal employees in the competitive service
Indian preference eligibles (must submit a BIA Form 4432)
Veterans who are preference eligibles or who have been separated from the armed forces with an honorable discharge
Government employees eligible through an Interchange agreement
Candidates eligible under Non-Competitive special hiring authority
Current or former time-limited employees eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act

Duties

• Distribute irrigation water from and between storage reservoirs at diversions and in canals, and at all delivery points within the specified work territory.
• Maintain records of water delivery, reservoir inflow and instream flows; calculate requirements and arranges quantity, time and duration of deliveries.
• Operate Project distribution facilities (dam gates, canal gates, checks) to regulate and deliver water in accordance with Project policies.
• Responsible for constant surveillance of condition of reservoirs, dams, canals, structures, buildings, recorder stations and other facilities.
• Work with maintenance crew to clean ditches and structures, repair and replace structures, build/place concrete forms and operate hand or power tools.
• Take daily measurements and Receive water orders.
• For vacancies filled at less than the full performance level of the position, duties will be developmental in nature.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Indian Preference applies
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
• You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• Incumbent is required to operate a government motor vehicle, must possess a valid driver's license, and have a safe driving record within the 3 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.
• These positions are required to work evenings and some weekends, not guaranteed weekends off. Also alternating shift work may be required on a quarterly basis, which a shift differential will be included in pay for night shift.

Qualifications

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement and applications will be referred when vacancies occur. This announcement is intended as a mechanism of providing consideration for the greatest number of potential candidates. Candidates with a complete application will be considered for all vacancies that occur for a 3-month period or the closing date of this announcement, whichever comes first.

Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained for three months and may be used at any time during this period. After 3 months, you must reapply to this announcement in order to be considered.

Resumes for federal government positions need more detailed work descriptions and accomplishments than a typical private sector resume. Please be sure to clearly describe the full scope of your work experiences in your resume.

To be hired at the GS-4 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have: 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience General Experience is defined as (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Example of this work can be defined as recording work orders, reporting emergency situations or problems, cleaning ditches, operating hand tools, assist with weed control, complies with safety instructions.

Specialized Experience is defined as Farming or ranching work that provided knowledge of soil and water conservation practices and irrigation procedures used in the geographical area for which application is made. Construction, maintenance, or operating work that provided a knowledge of the control, regulation, distribution, and measurement of water. Controlling, clearing, repairing, and maintaining irrigation ditches, canals, and equipment, or soil conservation or engineering technician work where the duties provided a knowledge of irrigation procedures.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as civil engineering, agriculture, soil management or conservation, physical science, mathematics, or range management or conservation.

To be hired at the GS-5 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service.

Specialized Experience is defined as farming or ranching work that provided knowledge of soil and water conservation practices and irrigation procedures used in the geographical area for which application is made. Construction, maintenance, or operating work that provided a knowledge of the control, regulation, distribution, and measurement of water. Controlling, clearing, repairing, and maintaining irrigation ditches, canals, and equipment, or soil conservation or engineering technician work where the duties provided a knowledge of irrigation procedures.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR GS-5 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of a full 4-year of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as civil engineering, agriculture, soil management or conservation, physical science, mathematics, or range management or conservation.

To be hired at the GS-6 grade level, applicants must minimally have: One year specialized experience equivalent to a GS-5 in the federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as Farming or ranching work that provided knowledge of soil and water conservation practices and irrigation procedures used in the geographical area for which application is made. Construction, maintenance, or operating work that provided a knowledge of the control, regulation, distribution, and measurement of water. Controlling, clearing, repairing, and maintaining irrigation ditches, canals, and equipment, or soil conservation or engineering technician work where the duties provided a knowledge of irrigation procedures.

At the GS-6 level Education is normally not applicable. The full performance level of this position is GS-6. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed.

Physical Requirements: physical lifting, pulling, carrying, lift, carry and set up tools, equipment, lumber, cement steel and other items weighing up to 100 pounds. Maneuver on and around project structures both during maintenance and during operation; includes standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and working in typical construction and maintenance worksites (trenches, scaffolds, platforms, ladders).

Working Conditions: Outside work in all kinds of weather, on all kinds of terrain and with footing conditions from dry and solid to wet, deep mud and around deep water. Breathing conditions are generally good, but temperatures vary by location.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Additional information

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2024 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Poston, Arizona. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: If applying under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, you must provide documentation to support your eligibility (SF-50) and performance (references and/or performance appraisal). Under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) two groups of individuals are eligible to apply under this announcement: current and/or former employees serving or who have served under time-limited competitive appointments at land management agencies. Land Management Agencies include: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

• Current appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND 3) must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
• Former appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; 3) must have separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND 4) must have performed at an acceptable level through the service period.

Certain candidates may be eligible to apply under a special hiring authority including those for disabled individuals, Peace Corps employees, Foreign Service employees, veterans, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Information Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/; Vets Info Guide: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.

Former Federal Employees are required to indicate whether they received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) buyout in their previous employment with the Federal government, and are required to submit a copy of the applicable Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) regarding the VSIP. Most individuals who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment.

• 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.
  
  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.

Your application package will be evaluated against the minimum qualification requirements specified above. In order to qualify, your resume must specifically describe your work history and the duties you performed in each position. Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date of 12/31/2024 to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. Qualified candidates will then be rated as best qualified, well qualified, or qualified depending on their possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and experience requirements as demonstrated by your responses to the assessment questions. Competencies measured include:

• Knowledge and Ability to communicate, motivate and work independently
• Knowledge of Irrigated crops and water delivery
• Knowledge of Irrigation Operations and Maintenance and Water Delivery
• Knowledge of location of canals and lateral repairs
• Knowledge of water measurement and weather analysis

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If the information in your resume does not support your responses to the assessment questions, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your qualifications.

Qualified Indian preference candidates will be referred to the hiring manager in order of veterans' preference.

• 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.
  
  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.
  
  The following documents are required for this position:
  
  • Your resume (must be current/updated and include the following):
    
    • Work Experience:
      
      • Position title
      • Dates of employment (include month/year)
      • Hours worked per week
      • Salary
      • Current supervisor's name and telephone number
      • Duties (Please be specific and include any accomplishments)
      • Education
      • References (include complete name and telephone number)
        
        • Must be 3 professional references
  • On-line Assessment Questionnaire
  • Transcripts (if using education to qualify) - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, an official transcript may be requested at a later time.
  • Veteran's documentation - (if applicable) VA letter on VA letterhead stating your overall combined rating, SF-15, DD-214 (copy 4) reflecting an honorable discharge and dates of active duty military service.
  • Special Appointing Authority documentation (if applying under a special hiring authority)
  • BIA Form 4432 (if claiming Indian preference)
  • Performance Appraisal (if applying under the Land Management Flexibility Act)
  • Current & Former Federal Employees
    
    • If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee OR a former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility you must submit the following by the closing date of this announcement, or you will not receive consideration as such:
      
      a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level and step; and
      
      your most recent performance appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable); and
      
      if applicable, a list of any awards you received in the last 5 years (i.e., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.).
  
  If you are applying as a VEOA candidate, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 and your letter from the VA reflecting an honorable discharge and that you either completed three years of active duty service or are a preference eligible. For more information see: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx#veoa.
  
  If you are unable to apply online, require reasonable accommodation in the application process if you are an applicant with a disability, or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
  
  ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM Eastern Time ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. If your application package is incomplete in any way, you will not be considered for this position, and requests for extensions will not be granted. Please double check your application package before you submit it.
  
  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE SOLICITED OR ACCEPTED BY THIS OFFICE
  
  
  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
  
  COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT:
  
  "To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine."
  
  ONLINE APPLICATION SUBMISSION:
  
  To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
  
  - To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  
  - Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  
  - After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  
  - You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
  
  To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login ); all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/ .
  
  PLEASE NOTE - NO APPLICATION MATERIAL WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA E-MAIL.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  Debra Knox
  
  Phone
  
  4806224188
  
  Email
  
  debra.knox@bia.gov
  
  Address
  
  BIA Center for Recruitment Rocky Mountain Regional
  
  BIA Center for Recruitment Rocky Mountain Regional
  
  2021 4th Avenue North
  
  Billings, MT 59101
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

The following documents are required for this position:

• Your resume (must be current/updated and include the following):
  
  • Work Experience:
    
    • Position title
    • Dates of employment (include month/year)
    • Hours worked per week
    • Salary
    • Current supervisor's name and telephone number
    • Duties (Please be specific and include any accomplishments)
    • Education
    • References (include complete name and telephone number)
      
      • Must be 3 professional references
• On-line Assessment Questionnaire
• Transcripts (if using education to qualify) - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, an official transcript may be requested at a later time.
• Veteran's documentation - (if applicable) VA letter on VA letterhead stating your overall combined rating, SF-15, DD-214 (copy 4) reflecting an honorable discharge and dates of active duty military service.
• Special Appointing Authority documentation (if applying under a special hiring authority)
• BIA Form 4432 (if claiming Indian preference)
• Performance Appraisal (if applying under the Land Management Flexibility Act)
• Current & Former Federal Employees
  
  • If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee OR a former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility you must submit the following by the closing date of this announcement, or you will not receive consideration as such:
    
    a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level and step; and
    
    your most recent performance appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable); and
    
    if applicable, a list of any awards you received in the last 5 years (i.e., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.).

If you are applying as a VEOA candidate, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 and your letter from the VA reflecting an honorable discharge and that you either completed three years of active duty service or are a preference eligible. For more information see: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx#veoa.

If you are unable to apply online, require reasonable accommodation in the application process if you are an applicant with a disability, or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM Eastern Time ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. If your application package is incomplete in any way, you will not be considered for this position, and requests for extensions will not be granted. Please double check your application package before you submit it.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE SOLICITED OR ACCEPTED BY THIS OFFICE


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

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT:

"To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine."

ONLINE APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login ); all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/ .

PLEASE NOTE - NO APPLICATION MATERIAL WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA E-MAIL.

Agency contact information

Debra Knox

Phone

4806224188

Email

debra.knox@bia.gov

Address

BIA Center for Recruitment Rocky Mountain Regional

BIA Center for Recruitment Rocky Mountain Regional

2021 4th Avenue North

Billings, MT 59101

US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Fair & Transparent

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

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