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 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 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 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. Be certified on aerial lift or other equipment if assigned to use or operate. 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. 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: Reliability and dependability to accomplish works and trades performing various 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. Experience reflected in this self-rating must be supported in your resume. Failure to meet this element results 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 Follow Directions in a Shop Ability To Handle Weights and Loads Ability To Work as a Member of a Team Dexterity and Safety Reliability And Dependability Shop Aptitude and Interest Special Aptitude 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. The Electrician Helper may also work in the shop. The Electrician Helper frequently works on surfaces which may be slippery due to oil or ice. Work is done in energized Substations at various heights in excess of 15 feet, such as on steel framework, platforms, and ladders adjacent to energized high-voltage equipment. 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. Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled (oil, acid, etc.). 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. When assigned to Construction the Electrician Helper may be in continuous travel status. PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. The work requires extensive bending, pushing, pulling, reaching occasional crawling; and working in cramped, confined positions or from scaffolds and manlifts in excess of 15 feet. Some tasks, such as assisting in the installation of conduit and pulling cable, involve heavy manual labor. Must be able to distinguish clearances around machinery with moving parts. Incumbents must be able to perform strenuous tasks that include loading or unloading crates from storage locations, removing or replacing heavy assemblies in relatively inaccessible locations, and moving bulky or awkward objects such as extension ladders, bales of rags, reels of wire, or test apparatus. Must be able to move and position equipment and materials weighing over 100 pounds such as SF 6 gas cylinders, capacitors, bags of concrete mix, railroad ties, etc. Incumbents must be able to work with both arms overhead. Must be able to periodically wear protective apparel which includes respirators. Extensive driving over unimproved surfaces may be required. Work may be performed on smooth or uneven surfaces and will be performed under varying climatic conditions. Incumbents must have good distance vision in at least one eye and have the ability to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. They must be able to distinguish different electrical components based on color coding or shade variations. They must have the ability to hear the conversational voice. Speech must be suitable for clear communication by telephone. Incumbents must be in good physical condition sufficient to safely perform the duties of the position. Electrician Helper Experience Levels: Electrician Helper A - After 12 months experience. Electrician Helper B - 6 to 12 months experience. Electrician Helper C - 0 to 6 months experience. "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.