Electrician Helper

Summary

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in Central Electrical Services (TFHE), Construction & Maintenance (TFH), Transmission Field Services (TF), Transmission Services (T). A successful candidate in the Electrician Helper position will assist the Electrician in the installation and adjustment (construction) or maintenance and repair (maintenance) of electrical equipment in substations.

Duties

As an Electrician Helper, you will assist the Electrician in the installation and adjustment (construction) or maintenance and repair (maintenance) of electrical equipment in substations. This involves the handling of tools and materials, and the performance of other tasks required to support the Electrician. Work is assigned and supervised by the Electrician Foreman. The incumbent performs all duties without more than normal supervision and in compliance with government regulations, BPA safety rules, and the BPA-CPTC Collective Agreement. Lay out and move tools about and hand them to higher grade workers, lay out materials and parts, pick up old materials and keep area clean. Acquire materials, and prepare retired and/or excess materials for shipment. Perform a variety of lesser skilled tasks as determined by Electrical Foreman on the job incidental to the work of journeymen electricians. These tasks require the use of some tools such as power hacksaws, pipe threaders, drills, etc. Assist journeymen electricians by having the proper tools and material on hand to perform the assigned jobs. Keep general work area and tools clean, and perform any assigned excavation and backfill work for underground conduit or grounding. When journeymen are working off the ground in steel racks, the Electrician Helper may be required to use the tools necessary to cut and thread conduit, cut bus, and clean up bus fittings. If the work being performed is from an approved scaffold or manlift device, the Helper may be required to assist the journeyman from this level. Work with hazardous waste and materials.

Requirements

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. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. 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. 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 preemployment medical exam, at BPA expense, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check. If exposed to health hazards, have periodic physical examinations as prescribed by competent medical authority at BPA expense. (Employees will work in close proximity to substances, such as mercury, acids, solvents, or PCB's, which may have effects on health unless prescribed handling procedures are followed.) 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 restricted electrical worker's permit or obtain within 30 days of appointment and maintain continuously thereafter. Possess valid commercial driver's license (CDL) with all endorsements that are required to operate substation maintenance and construction equipment from state of residence. Possess a U.S. Motor Vehicle Operator Authorization or obtain within 30 days after appointment. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants. Subject to call for emergency work at any time.

Qualifications and evaluation

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: Hurdle 1: Assessment Questionnaire 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. Hurdle 2: Subject Matter Expert - Qualification Assessment 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'. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Ability To Follow Directions in a Shop Ability To Handle Weights and Loads Dexterity and Safety Reliability And Dependability Shop Aptitude and Interest If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement to be referred for consideration. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/13/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13105830

Education

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

How to apply

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. The application process is as follows: You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date. You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://login.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes: Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). Information on how to create a federal resume https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume. Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition. Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/ Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations. BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment. We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.