High Voltage Substation Operator Apprentice I

Summary

The Apprenticeship program is a formal training program consisting of 7 steps for Substation Operator (3 1/2 years). The apprentice must pass an end-of-step review following each 6-month step to remain in the program. Apprentices will be promoted to journeymen after successfully passing the final step review.

Duties

As a Substation Operator Apprentice I, series 5407: A successful candidate in the position of Substation Operator Apprentice I will, under direct supervision of a journeyman Substation Operator or another journeyman Electrical Worker, operate high voltage electrical equipment in electrical power transmission system substations and on transmission lines. Specific tasks vary with the type of substation to be operated. Available duty locations: Kent, WA; Longview, WA; Olympia, WA; East Wenatchee, WA; Pasco, WA; Richland, WA; Snohomish, WA; Clarkston, WA; Vancouver, WA; Kalispell, MT; Gold Creek, MT; Goshen, OR; North Bend, OR; Keizer, OR Hillsboro, OR Umatilla, OR. Satisfactory completion of all aspects of each step including online courses and classroom instruction is mandatory for advancement to the next step. Failure to meet program requirements contained in the Standard of Apprenticeship will result in removal from the Apprenticeship program. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Substation Operator Apprentice- Must be able to climb and work at various heights such as on platforms, ladders and stairs adjacent to high-voltage equipment. Requires good balance to climb ladders and stairs, and perform repair duties while switching and changing fuses and walk on uneven surfaces. Operate motor vehicles. Ability to raise, lower and maneuver up to 30 pounds utilizing a pole 20 feet or more in length. The Apprentice can expect to be in a travel status approximately 25% of the time since assignments away from the headquarters will be required to complete some of the work processes and training. The total costs of tuition, books, and related materials will be paid by BPA. The Apprentice will be paid for travel and per diem expenses, in accordance with applicable travel regulations, for expenses incurred in connection with mandatory training, including training on scheduled days off. The time spent traveling to the training site and returning from the training site is the employee's responsibility and is not paid for by BPA. Next Apprentice class will start February 7th, 2027.

Requirements

Satisfactory completion of all aspects of each step including the online courses and classroom instruction is mandatory for advancement to the next step. Failure to meet apprentice program requirements contained in the Standard of Apprenticeship will result in removal from the apprenticeship program. Work in close proximity to substances, such as acids, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, asbestos, mercury, and solvents, etc., which may have effects on health unless prescribed handling procedures are followed. If exposed to health hazards, have periodic physical examinations as prescribed by competent medical authority at BPA expense. Become knowledgeable with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual. Establish a residence in accordance with negotiated requirements, that is within one hour (90 minutes for the Grand Coulee, Washington duty station) or less commuting time under normal weather and road conditions, to the duty station headquarters. Possess or obtain a Substation Entry Permit within the one-year of employment and maintain it continuously thereafter. Possess at all times a valid state driver's license. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants, and can be cause for removal from the program. Take First Aid training to obtain a First Aid and CPR Card within the first month of employment and maintain continuously thereafter. Subject to call for emergency work at any time. Operate any type of motor vehicle applicable to assigned duties. As part of the job requirements, and at the discretion of the Chief Substation Operator III, the Substation Operator Apprentice shall be required to apply restricted use pesticides and may be required to obtain a pesticide applicator's license. The Administration shall provide the necessary training for such a license. In addition to a successful evaluation on the final review, the Step 7 Apprentice must pass the current year's Clearance Certification examination. Satisfactory completion of the clearance certification examination is a mandatory requirement for graduation to the journeyman level. The Apprentices may be selected for and relocated to their first assigned duty station during the last 6 months of their apprenticeship program in accordance with BPA-CPTC memorandum of understanding (MOU) applicable to apprentice placement.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process. Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, you will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Non-competitive Procedures: If you are applying under a non-competitive or special hiring authority, you will still be required to answer the assessment questions. However, you will not be evaluated against the rating and ranking criteria. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you are minimally qualified for this job. Veterans' Preference will be applied when required by the hiring authority (e.g., VRA, Schedule A). All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion and VEOA applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date ( 09/03/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13034543. USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score. USA Hire cut scores are based on the minimum level of proficiency required to perform the job for a specific series and grade. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. The cut score is set at a government-wide level and not at the agency or individual vacancy level for USA Hire standard assessments. In accordance with 5 CFR 300.201(a), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management does not release testing and examination materials, scoring criteria including the specific cut score requirements, or other information used solely to determine individual qualifications, so as not to compromise the objectivity of the testing process.

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. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can reuse the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application. 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). 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. Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement: SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information. Individuals with Disabilities: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center. Certain Military Spouses: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center. Other non-competitive or special appointing authorities: provide documentation which supports your eligibility. 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. If selected for the position you MUST submit: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and incentive awards, you received in the last 5 years. The assigned HR Specialist will verify review this documentation to ensure selectee has at least a satisfactory performance rating before setting the entrance on duty date. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you will be asked to submit a statement as to why it is not available.

Additional information

You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. You will be required to report in person to the official duty location. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website. This position will require successful completion of a background investigation. Obtain certification on the equipment associated with substation operations assigned to operate. 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. Information on how to create a federal resume https://www.usa.gov/government-jobs https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume/build https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register 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.