Equipment Operator

This position is part of the Southwestern Power Administration, Department Of Energy. As a Equipment Operator, you will be performs right-of-way clearing activities and miscellaneous work pertaining to right-of-way accessibility, and gate and road work.

Loads and unloads heavy equipment and machinery using heavy truck and tractor trailer combinations, then hauls to and from work sites and other locations.
Constructs and maintains rights-of-way access roads and trails including installing gates, fences, culverts, and small bridges; grading drainage ditches; and constructing revetments and other bank protection and diversionary structures in rivers, creeks, and streams.
Clears high voltage transmission rights-of-way with mechanical and chemical methods including removal of brush and trees to maintain proper clearance limits for safe and reliable flow of power. Uses heavy equipment with bush hogs, rotary axes and mulching attachments for mechanical methods. Applies herbicides, according to standards, by spot spraying and broadcasting with boom sprayers for suppression of trees and woody plants.
Operates and maintains wheeled- and crawler-type equipment including hydro axes, tracked dozers, backhoes, loaders, Jarraff tree trimmers, industrial tractors with bush hogs, manlifts, bucket trucks, forklifts, track mounted mulchers, skid steers, and graders for clearing and maintaining high voltage transmission rights-of way.

75% or less - Travel of up to 75% annually is required; with overnight travel of 10-20 days per month on average.

No

None

• Job family (Series)

  4741 General Equipment Operating

• Requirements

  RequirementsConditions of Employment
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  • If selected for this position, your appointment is contingent upon completion of OF- 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, during the pre-employment process.
  • If selected, you will be required to complete a questionnaire and are subject to a criminal background check to determine suitability for Federal employment before appointment.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
  • For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
  Qualifications

  Qualifications: You must have journeyman-level ability in the duties of an Equipment Operator. You must meet all the qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

  Education

  Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

  Additional information
  The incumbent is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  The incumbent is subject to the random drug and alcohol testing program established by the Department of Energy.
  The position requires a pre-appointment and annual physical exam at Federal expense.
  The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
  This position may require regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be required on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements. The incumbent is subject to Telephone Calls and/or Emergency Callouts, outside of normal scheduled workdays to support system restoration and/or emergency response. The duties of this position may require the incumbent to respond to mission critical and/or emergency situations that may occur within SWPA's maintenance areas. Call Back Status-When an incumbent is called back on a regularly workday, but outside their normally scheduled work hours. The incumbent of this position is subject to being placed in a Call Back Status to respond to mission critical or emergency situations that may occur within SWPA's maintenance areas.
  Call Out Status-When an incumbent is called in outside their normally scheduled workdays. The duties of this position may require the incumbent to be placed in a 24/7 Call Out Status to respond to mission critical or emergency situations that may occur within SWPA's maintenance areas.
  Standby Status-The duties of this position may require the incumbent to be placed in a standby status, where they are required by management to remain at, or in the vicinity of, a particular place or work location.
  This position is designated as Emergency Essential.
  All external-to-SWPA employees hired after October 1, 2010, shall reside within a one (1) hour response time from the employee's duty station upon entry into the position. All internal-to- SWPA employees competing for and accepting this position while residing more than one hour response time away from the duty station must reside within one hour response time from the new duty station within 6 months of the entrance-on-duty date for this position.
  This position requires the ability to operate a Government vehicle. The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment.
  The incumbent must possess upon entry into the position and continue to maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles of more than 26,000 pounds GVWR upon entry into the position. The license must NOT have the following restriction codes: L, Z, E, O.
  This position is required to ensure that responsibilities are carried out consistent with the guidelines and objectives of the Environmental Management System (EMS), the Environmental Protection Program directive, and associated special emphasis environmental programs. The incumbent will ensure self-assessments of programs, projects, and facilities are conducted in accordance with environmental guidance which includes documentation supporting environmental objectives.
  This position requires extensive travel in the performance of official duties. As a result, the incumbent is required to obtain, use, and maintain a government travel card for all official travel.
  
  How You Will Be Evaluated

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
  
  Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.
  
  Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
  

  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.
  • Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
  
  
  Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.
  
  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 scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).
  
  You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (09/15/2021) of this announcement.
  
  To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11211364
  
  Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance

  Not Required

  Drug test required

  Yes

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  Trust determination process

  Credentialing

• Required Documents

  Required Documents

  To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

  • Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the 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.
  • Veterans' Preference documentation,if applicable, 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.
  • 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 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.

• Benefits

  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.

• The public

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.