Summary All hourly jobs are considered as open for bid on a continuous basis. Any BPA employee on a competitive career or career-conditional appointment may, at any time, submit an application for permanent promotions, reassignments, or change of duty stations. In order to assure all interested employees are considered, candidates are solicited annually through a Continuous Vacancy Announcement - Hourly Jobs (Bid List) identifying those jobs and duty locations, for which they wish to be considered. Responsibilities As an Electrician (Construction), you will: Install and adjust major electrical equipment -- Major equipment items are power transformers and gas, oil, or air-insulated power circuit breakers. Other very important equipment items in Substations are instrument and station service transformers, disconnect switches, protective devices, static capacitors, circuit switches, batteries, and chargers. 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. Making internal wiring connections so that mounted accessories function correctly is also included. Installation of transformers also requires extensive dehydration treatment to remove all excess moisture from the insulation systems. Circuit breaker erection includes bushing and interrupter mounting, alignment of connecting linkages, connecting power, control, and indication circuits, and monitoring trial operations of the breaker to assure proper functioning. Maintenance and Repair of major electrical equipment -- All major electrical equipment in substations is serviced by Electricians on a regular schedule. Equipment service is inspection, adjustment, lubrication, replacement of worn parts, and repair as needed. Diagnostic testing is included as a part of routine inspection. Testing is done to verify that the equipment can perform as it was designed and rated. When equipment fails, emergency repairs are made as needed. The reasons for equipment failure or malfunction are analyzed. Shop activity -- Electricians perform work in shops on equipment components. They test, repair, and modify items including bushings, motors, small power tools, and other miscellaneous items. Shop activity can include work to prepare apparatus for use in test programs for equipment performance investigation. 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. Existing panels are modified by cutting, drilling, mounting additional items and connecting wires, as needed. 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. Wiring -- Equipment is connected by wire and fiber optic conductors to control and communication equipment. Control houses, maintenance buildings, and storage areas require station service for lighting and heating. Some structures require air conditioning. Substations often include electrical devices such as batteries and chargers which are installed and maintained by electricians. Steel structure erection -- Racks and towers to support electrical equipment in Substations are assembled by electricians. Ground mats, conduit, duct and trench system installation -- All structures in a Substation are connected to a grid of conductor installed under the yard service. Conduit and trenches for cable access to equipment are installed. Cables are pulled into the conduit. 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 and/or Operating Bulletin #2. Perform switching -- At times an Electrician will be required to isolate a piece of equipment for repair or maintenance at dispatcher's discretion. Housekeeping -- Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned, such as cleaning yard, tool trucks and trailers, and incidental tasks related to crew assignments. Requirements Conditions of Employment Position is subject to initial pre-employment Drug Testing and random drug testing thereafter. 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 authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards. 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. Apprentices in the last year of the program are encouraged to submit an application to indicate duty locations for which they want to be considered for permanent placement. Become fully knowledgeable of and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual. Establish a residence in accordance with negotiated requirements, that is within one hour or less commuting time under normal weather and road conditions, to the duty station headquarters. 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 substation maintenance and construction 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, normally used in substation maintenance and construction. 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 includes evaluating employees on both written and performance tests. 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. 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) 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. 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. WORKING CONDITIONS: Working conditions vary depending on tasks. Most work is performed outside in all weather conditions, but some work is done inside under normal shop conditions. Work is performed around energized equipment, such as switchboards containing critical control circuits where carelessness could cause a serious system disturbance or outage. Work is done in energized Substations at various heights in excess of 100 feet, such as on steel framework, platforms, and ladders adjacent to energized high-voltage equipment. The Electrician must frequently work on surfaces which are slippery due to insulating oil or ice. Installing conduit, pulling cable, working in oil circuit breaker (OCB) tanks, etc., involves working in restricted and cramped quarters. Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled (oil, acid, and solvent fumes, etc.). At times, work may be physically demanding. The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to hazardous substances (i.e., mercury, acids, solvents, PCB's, etc.) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk. Potential exposure to radiation could occur if assigned to work at the WNP2 plant (Ashe and Hanford). Emergencies, critical system conditions, or outage limitations may require that work be systemwide, done at night or under serious time pressures. System priorities may require extended periods of overtime including working weekends and holidays. "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. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional Information The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation. EEO Policy: http://www.usajobs.gov/eeo Reasonable Accommodation Policy: http://www.usajobs.gov/raps BPA strives to ensure a safe, positive, inclusive work environment, supported by Leadership Behaviors. For more information on Leadership Behaviors visit: www.bpa.gov/goto/LeadershipBehaviors Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.