This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration within the Transmission Field Services (TF) organization within the Transmission Services (T).

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.

External Application Link(s): 

            25-BPA-42781-12585652-DH: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/815266200

Open & Close date:     Open: 10/22/2024    Close: 10/21/2025

LOCATION(s)             Multiple locations (see announcement for locations)

SALARY:                     $64.91 - $64.91 per hour

DUTIES:

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis.

As an Electrician, you will:

A successful candidate in the position of Electrician (Maintenance) will maintain and repair electrical equipment in Substations. The maintenance aspects include routine inspection, modification, troubleshooting, and repair of facilities.

• 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

REQUIREMENTS:  Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• This position does not support remote work. You will be required to report physically to the official reporting worksite as specified by the supervisor, but no less than 2 days per pay 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.
• Those positions at Richland will be required to take annual radiation training and pass a written exam.
• 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, at BPA expense, 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 authorities and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.

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 ability to successfully perform the work of a High Voltage Electrician is defined as having performed the majority of the following duties under normal supervision; maintaining, installing, modifying, calibrating, repairing of; electrical sub-stations, power generation/transmission/distribution equipment and systems at 11,000 to 500,000 volts; climbing, maintaining and repairing electrical sub-stations; transformer banks. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

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:

• Able to climb and work at various heights, averaging 40 feet, rarely to 100 feet, such as on steel framework, platforms and ladders adjacent to high-voltage equipment.
• Requires good balance while climbing ladders and structures such as transformers toperform repair duties and while hanging grounds.
• Must be able to work from ladders and other aerial equipment.
• Ability to stand an average of 2 hours, with a maximum of 3-4 hours uninterrupted.
• Walks an average of 2 hours; alternate standing/walking up to a maximum of 8 hours, some of which may be on uneven, slippery, surfaces and rough terrain.
• Positions 100-110 pound nitrogen and oxygen bottles and 200-pound SF6 gas cylinders from rack to cart (usually two persons assist with this) on daily basis.
• Ability to raise, lower and maneuver up to 30 pounds utilizing a pole 20 feet or more in length.
• Pushing/pulling while assembling bolts and parts.
• Works in cramped, awkward positionswhile working from buckets, in manholes or confined spaces, etc.
• Works with arms overhead or occasionally outstretchedfor extended periods of time.
• Frequent kneeling to access and test equipment and wire.
• To receive directions from co-workers, listen for telephone. Ability to hear warning devices and abnormal noises.

"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.

This public notice may be used to fill multiple positions as needed; therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are reviewed.

EDUCATION:

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

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:  

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package.

 (See Required Documents section on application).

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.

To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

About Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)

Bonneville Power Administration

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