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 a System Dispatcher (Outage), you will: Maintain voltage levels by operating or ordering the operation of transformer taps, capacitors or reactors, generators, and transmission lines. Control loading of transmission lines and substation equipment by operating or ordering the operation of substation and generating plant equipment. Analyze abnormal transmission system conditions and trouble to solve problems relating to the continuity of service and restoration of generation, transmission, and customer loads. Determine the feasibility of removing transmission lines and substation facilities from service and approves switch orders to accomplish same. Direct prearranged and emergency switching. Direct proper tagging of equipment and properly tags own equipment. Dispatch switchmen, technicians, craftsmen, engineers, transmission line and substation maintenance personnel and others during emergencies. Issue Clearances, Hold Orders, and equipment tags on electrical facilities for the protection of BPA workers. Obtains Clearances and Hold Orders from foreign utilities. Issue Clearances and Hold Orders to dispatchers and other personnel of foreign utilities. Maintain dispatchers' Group Display Board. Keep designated management and other personnel informed regarding critical operation problems. Make accurate and complete entries in the dispatch log. Cooperate with System Dispatchers of other interconnected power systems in coordinating reactive and power flow problems and general dispatching relations. Cooperate with other BPA dispatchers regarding inter-related operating problems. Keep records of power generation and interchange for BPA power system and maintains miscellaneous records. Plan outages when assigned to the Outage Dispatcher function. Make recommendations to the Manager regarding need for changes in operating instructions, dispatching procedures, relay schemes, communication facilities, and power system transmission lines and substation equipment. Perform the numbers function when assigned. Monitor and operate field equipment by supervisory control. Instruct other dispatchers, apprentices, and other personnel assigned for training. Perform other tasks as assigned. 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. 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. You must be a United States Citizen. 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. Change shifts on short notice or continue on duty in absence of relief. Within 30 days after appointment and continuously thereafter, must possess a valid BPA Electrical Worker Permit and a Standard Clearance Certification. Become familiar with, follow, and enforce the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual. Work Relief when required Subject to call for emergency work at any time. Maintains required system dispatcher/operator reliability certifications (e.g., NERC, WECC) Subject to Random Drug tests. 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: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision in the operation of electrical and electronic equipment associated with operating and dispatching of a large interconnected power system to maintain voltage schedules by operating transformer taps, capacitors, or reactors, and generators. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result 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 Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints) Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc. Operation of Equipment Relevant to Trade Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments 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: Works indoors on rotating shifts. During system emergencies work is very stressful. Works for long periods of time using CRT screens. Work is sedentary but occasionally requires climbing ladders. PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. The duties are performed on rotating shifts. Physical demands include climbing a system group display board ladder. Mental strain may result from the responsibility of following exacting procedures under emergency conditions. The System Dispatcher must be able to give complete, concise, and clear directions and elicit full detailed information by use of the telephone. The System Dispatcher must have good distance vision in one eye and the ability to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. They must be able to distinguish the basic colors, specifically red, orange, yellow, brown, blue, green, and purple in order to distinguish electrical components and to read and adjust color video display terminals. They must have the ability to hear the conversational voice. Incumbents must be in good physical condition sufficient to safely perform the duties of the position. "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.