Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Powerplant Operator Sr. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.
This is an open continuous announcement for one (1) year from the initial open date. See Additional Information section for cut-off dates.
Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Powerplant Operator Sr. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.
This is an open continuous announcement for one (1) year from the initial open date. See Additional Information section for cut-off dates.
Current career or career conditional competitive service employees with the Bureau of Reclamation in local commuting area of Grand Coulee, Washington, Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) eligibles, and current or former time-limited employees with the Bureau of Reclamation eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).
Serves as Lead Powerplant Operator on shift at the third powerplant duty station. Manually operates three 820,000 hp, 600 MW turbine/generators, and three 1,053,900 hp, 805 MW turbine/generators, unit auxiliary equipment and ancillary equipment in the powerplant and dam. Operates: compressed air systems, pressurized oil and lubricating systems, cooling systems, potable water systems, sewage system, fire protection systems, heating/ventilating systems, power transformers, power distribution systems and system stability devices.
You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.
Who May Apply:
Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive)
Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive)
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
Qualifications
Your application materials must demonstrate sufficient experience and training to perform the duties of a Powerplant Operator Senior without more than normal supervision. Qualifications will be determined on the basis of information submitted within your resume and responses to the assessment questions. For information about qualifications for Federal Wage System positions please, visit OPM.
Minimum qualifications for trades and labor positions are determined by evaluation of job elements. You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements in order to be considered qualified for this position.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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 Eligibility and Qualification requirements by 09/26/2025 or by the cut-off date for which you wish to be considered.
Education
This position does not allow substituting education for experience.
Additional information
WORK SCHEDULE: Will work a rotating 12-hour shift (Days & Nights), and will work a schedule of 7 days on-duty/off-duty (Wednesday to Tuesday).
The cut off dates are October 11, 2024, January 11, 2025, April 11, 2025, and July 11, 2025.
For consideration by a particular cut-off date, qualification requirements must be met by the applicable date and applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time).
This is a competitive, TEMPORARY PROMOTION (UPCODE) announcement for a duration of up to one (1) year, and may be extended in one (1) year increments up to 5 years, from the time of selection. This temporary promotion action may be made permanent without further competition. The agreed upon eff effective dates for any time-limited promotion/upcode, may vary depending on needs and necessary coverage. The purpose of a time-limited promotion/upcode is to temporarily perform the duties of the Powerplant Operator Sr. The employee may be returned at any time (on or before the not-to-exceed date) to the position from which they were temporarily promoted/upcoded from or to a different position of equivalent grade, pay, and location. You may not appeal the return to the permanent lower graded or lower paying position (or the equivalent) through the administrative or negotiated grievance procedures, or to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Supervisory Approval: Supervisory approval will be required at time of selection.
Applicants rated qualified for this position under this announcement will be eligible for payment for continuous or intermittent periods of work to this job classification. For BB employees, payment for this work may be made by upcoding on the employee's timesheet or using an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. For GS employees, payment for the work will be made by temporary promotion using an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov
This is a bargaining unit position represented by a Union.
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and submitted documents, if applicable, to ensure your meet the basic qualification requirements. HR will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in the assessment questionnaire. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Applicants determined best qualified will be referred to the selecting official.
You will be further evaluated on the following Job Elements through resume content and your responses to the application questionnaire:
Job Element 1: Ability to do the work of a Powerplant Operator, Sr. without more than normal supervision. (SCREENOUT)
Job Element 2: Ability to interpret standing operating procedures, operating orders, schematics, piping and construction drawings, checkout documents and checklists.
Job Element 3: Knowledge of safety and safe clearance practices.
Job Element 4: Knowledge of technical practices related to power plant operation.
Job Element 5: Knowledge of the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.
You will be required to complete and submit the appropriate check-sheet Forms and Resources (sharepoint.com). In both the "Duties" sections and "Knowledge Required by the Position" section, applicants will mark those boxes next to the information that they can perform without more than normal supervision. If the check-sheet includes additional questions, please answer these in narrative form in the space provided on the check-sheet or answer on a separate attachment. The immediate supervisor's signature must be obtained on the form prior to submission to HR. If the supervisor is unable to verify the required qualifications of the applicant, additional review may be required.
Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), you could be rated ineligible or your score could be lowered.
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.
Please submit the supporting documents outlined below applicable to your claimed eligibility status and the position and grade to which you are applying. Failing to submit required documents will result in non-consideration due to an incomplete application package.
RESUME: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience must include dates of employment including start and end dates (month and year), work schedule (full-time or part-time), and hours worked per week. For more information, click here.
CHECK-SHEETS: Required for ALL candidates (see How You Will be Evaluated). The check-sheet must be submitted with your application.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act/achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you are a current or former federal employee, a performance appraisal is required. If you do not submit a performance appraisal, or a statement as to why it is not available, you will not be considered for the position. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Competitive Service current federal employees eligible for Promotion, Reassignment, etc. You must submit a copy of your SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. FAILURE TO SUBMIT AN SF-50 VERIFYING STATUS WILL RESULT IN YOU NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. For more information, click here.
CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMS: Permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. You must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For more information, click here.
LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: Current or former land management agency appointees. You must submit (1) a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment; (2) a copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and (3) a copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. For more information, click here.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 09/26/2025. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.
Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.
Grand Coulee Power Office
Bureau of Reclamation
Grand Coulee Power Office
Hwy 155 P.O. Box 620
Grand Coulee, WA 99133
US
Next steps
Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.
After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting document(s) will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume, application questionnaire, and other assessment criteria identified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. Qualified and eligible applicants will be placed on the upcode list which is shared with all Grand Coulee Power Office supervisors. If selected from the upcode list, a suitability and/or security background investigation may be conducted along with any other requirements as listed in the "Requirements" section above. Once you have completed all requirements you may begin the upcode/temporary promotion as described in the "Additional Information" section above. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Please submit the supporting documents outlined below applicable to your claimed eligibility status and the position and grade to which you are applying. Failing to submit required documents will result in non-consideration due to an incomplete application package.
RESUME: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience must include dates of employment including start and end dates (month and year), work schedule (full-time or part-time), and hours worked per week. For more information, click here.
CHECK-SHEETS: Required for ALL candidates (see How You Will be Evaluated). The check-sheet must be submitted with your application.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act/achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you are a current or former federal employee, a performance appraisal is required. If you do not submit a performance appraisal, or a statement as to why it is not available, you will not be considered for the position. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Competitive Service current federal employees eligible for Promotion, Reassignment, etc. You must submit a copy of your SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. FAILURE TO SUBMIT AN SF-50 VERIFYING STATUS WILL RESULT IN YOU NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. For more information, click here.
CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMS: Permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. You must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For more information, click here.
LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: Current or former land management agency appointees. You must submit (1) a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment; (2) a copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and (3) a copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. For more information, click here.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 09/26/2025. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.
Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.
Grand Coulee Power Office
Bureau of Reclamation
Grand Coulee Power Office
Hwy 155 P.O. Box 620
Grand Coulee, WA 99133
US
Next steps
Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.
After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting document(s) will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume, application questionnaire, and other assessment criteria identified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. Qualified and eligible applicants will be placed on the upcode list which is shared with all Grand Coulee Power Office supervisors. If selected from the upcode list, a suitability and/or security background investigation may be conducted along with any other requirements as listed in the "Requirements" section above. Once you have completed all requirements you may begin the upcode/temporary promotion as described in the "Additional Information" section above. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
