Civil Engineer

Duties

These positions are being filled in several duty locations for different division groups throughout the Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region. Each division's primary duties are:

• Civil Engineer (Construction Engineering):
  • Oversight of on-site construction work, including inspection and acceptance of construction work performed by a contractor.
  • Participate in value planning and value engineering studies, constructability reviews, contractor selection panels, serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
  • Review designs for constructability, review specifications, determine and evaluate construction sequencing.
  • Research and prepare appropriate levels of cost estimates, and review and evaluate third party cost estimates through all phases of the planning and final design process.
• Civil Engineer (Operations & Maintenance):
  • Engineering lead for in-depth Periodic Facility Reviews (PFR's) of our high-hazard dams.
  • Co-Engineering lead for risk based Comprehensive Reviews (CR's) of our high-hazard dams.
  • Engineering lead for review of operation and maintenance (RO&M) inspections of our bridges, canals, pumping plants, pipelines, tunnels, siphons, and buildings.
  • Examination lead of inaccessible feature using push cameras, remotely operated vehicles, and pending approval: SCUBA, and Rope Access techniques to properly identify deficiencies and recommend repairs.
• Civil Engineer (Safety of Dams):
  • Plans, schedules, and coordinates studies and analysis to evaluate the risk of dam failures and incidents for based on seismic, static, and hydrologic loadings.
  • Performs engineering and project management duties for corrective actions on high-hazard dams to lower the risk of failure or major incidents.
  • Participates in dam inspections and risk analysis to better understand the failure modes and risk presented by the region's inventory of high-hazard dams.
• Civil Engineer (Design Engineering):
  • Completes various conventional and complex design projects and may perform Design Lead functions interacting with internal and external customers in the completion of their assigned duties. Supports development of data collection needs, completion of appraisal and feasibility studies, preparation of technical memoranda, and participates in value planning and value engineering studies.
  • Performs design calculations, prepares alternative evaluation studies, conceptual and final designs including construction specifications and drawings for civil and environmental features.
  • Completes new or modified design projects for civil and environmental features, or portions of these features.
• Civil Engineer (Tributary Habitat Management)
  • Supports Contracting of Design and other technical services including surveys, data analysis, design of restoration projects, and other contract needs. Writes or reviews task order and is a primary contact with consultants and partners regarding contract needs and changes.
  • Lead program planning, budgeting, and project prioritization within established budget targets and subbasin prioritizations and landowner willingness.
  • Project and subbasin coordination.
  • Projects include river restoration, diversion dam replacement or removal, fish screens, flow augmentation projects such as piping. Restoration includes floodplain activation, wood placement, side channel, and other components.
• Civil Engineer (Basin Liaison)
  • Coordination and representation of the program. Represents the program to partners, landowners, regulatory personnel, and others in the John Day Basin.
  • Basin planning and budgeting. Works with partners to provide design services to partners for high priority projects meeting program needs and fitting an established budget.
  • Design support of projects. Includes data collection, pre and post monitoring, design review, and feasibility planning with partners.
  • Contract support. Creates task orders, reviews deliverables, information to sponsors, and determines required contracts.
• Civil Engineer (River Systems Restoration):
  • Completes design projects for river and stream restoration to support ESA habitat and reestablishment of native river structure.
  • Works with external partners including States, Tribes, non-profit organizations, and private landowners to formulate construction plans for river restoration projects that address ESA listed habitat improvement objectives. Performs field data collection, design, and construction implementation activities to complete river restoration projects in specific tributary sub-basins throughout the Pacific Northwest Region.
  • Performs design calculations, prepares alternative evaluation studies, conceptual and final designs including construction specifications and drawings for project features. Completes appraisal and feasibility studies, flow modeling, and preparation of technical memoranda.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must possess a valid Professional Engineering Registration.
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 education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
For Civil Engineer (series 0810)
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
- OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

• Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT) 1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
• Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) 2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
• Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
• Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Additional Experience & Training Provisions for Graduate of Engineering Programs: ;br>
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to the basic education requirement, in order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that the applicant meets the specialized experience requirement - this information must be included in the resume.

To Qualify at the GS-11 Level: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-09 in the federal service. Specialized Experience at the GS-11 level is defined as using Civil Engineering theories, principles, and practices applicable to engineering designs, maintenance, and/or construction contracting for water resource facilities such as dams, canals, hydroelectric power plants, pumping plants, and the operating characteristics of associated civil, mechanical, or electrical equipment. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D., or I have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in engineering or a related field which provided the knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.

To Qualify at the GS-12 Level: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-11 in the federal service. Specialized Experience at the GS-12 level is defined as using Civil Engineering theories, principles, and practices applicable to engineering designs, maintenance, and/or construction contracting for water resource facilities such as dams, canals, hydroelectric power plants, pumping plants, and the operating characteristics of associated civil, mechanical, or electrical equipment. In addition, experience performing studies, calculations, plans, specifications, and or construction contracting on water related and/or hydroelectric facilities.

Professional Engineer (GS-12 only): The selectee will be required to provide a current valid Professional Engineering (P.E.) license to verify qualifications.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 10/31/2024.

Education

This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-11 grade level. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

This position has a mandatory minimum education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education .

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information .

Additional information

You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Current, permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a probationary period.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information, visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive .

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable, with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet .

Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For information, visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

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

Background Investigation: Investigation level will be determined at time of selection and will depend on which organization selectee is assigned to. Positions will either be designated:
LOW RISK: 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.
OR
MODERATE RISK Public Trust: requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS 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:

Positions in some locations are bargaining unit positions eligible to be represented by a union. Positions in some locations are non-bargaining unit positions.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

• Benefits
  Help
  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 window Learn more about federal benefits .
  
  Review our 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.

This vacancy will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority (DHA). Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. For more information on OPM's authorization on DHA, please visit .

Applicants who "self-certify" that they meet qualifications, selective placement factors (if applicable) and other requirements by the closing date of the announcement 10/31/2024, will be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration.

The selectee's qualifications will be verified prior to the interview process. Once qualifications have been verified by the HRS, the Selecting Official will be notified they may proceed with the interview process. After the interview process, a final selection is made, and a tentative job offer will be extended, all pre-employment and suitability requirements will be conducted. Selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Civil Service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the Civil Service.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). You will be assessed on the following Competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• KSA 1: Knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of engineering theories, concepts, principles, standards, and methods sufficient to provide advisory services in engineering analyses, documentation, and investigations, and in the planning and/or design process.
• KSA 2: Knowledge with the principles and practical concepts and processes of other related engineering and physical and biological/environmental science disciplines in order to ensure connection, contribution, or inclusion of the multiple disciplines involved in civil engineering assignments.
• KSA 3: Skill in identifying, conceptualizing, and developing solutions to engineering problems or needs, and skill in independently planning and conducting studies and reviews and developing technical documents such as site reviews, feasibility through final designs, construction oversight, and associated guidance criteria, procedures, and instructions.
• KSA 4: Skill in establishing collaborative working relationships with stakeholders to ensure that their needs are heard and addressed; identifying and analyzing problems; distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions and develop solutions and communicating effectively with all levels and types of organizations and audiences.

The application questionnaire can be previewed here:

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other BureaOffices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.

• Benefits
  Help
  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 window Learn more about federal benefits .
  
  Review our 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.
  
  
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  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 .
  
  TRANSCRIPTS: Required for candidates using education as a basis for qualifications.
  
  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 .
  
  Professional Engineer: A current valid Professional Engineering (P.E.) license. Provide proof of license with the application. Failure to provide proof of the license may result in an ineligible rating for the GS-12 grade level.
  
  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.
  
  
• How to Apply
  
  Applications (resume, application questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 10/31/2024. 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.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  BOR C-PN Region 9 Human Resources Office
  
  Email
  
  Address Regional Office
  Bureau of Reclamation
  Regional Office
  1150 N. Curtis Road, Suite 100
  Boise, ID 83706
  US
  
  Learn more about this agency
  
  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. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. 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.
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request
  
  

Required Documents

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 .

TRANSCRIPTS: Required for candidates using education as a basis for qualifications.

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 .

Professional Engineer: A current valid Professional Engineering (P.E.) license. Provide proof of license with the application. Failure to provide proof of the license may result in an ineligible rating for the GS-12 grade level.

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.

How to Apply

Applications (resume, application questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 10/31/2024. 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.

Agency contact information

BOR C-PN Region 9 Human Resources Office

Email

Address Regional Office
Bureau of Reclamation
Regional Office
1150 N. Curtis Road, Suite 100
Boise, ID 83706
US

Learn more about this agency

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. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request