Lock and Dam Operator

About the role

About the Position: This announcement is for Lock and Dam Operator WY-5426-09 at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, IL.

What you will do

• Exercise authority over use of lock through issuance of instructions to craft operators.
• Serve as lead man of two-man crew responsible for making lockages, direct lower graded employees in the operation of lock and dam equipment, explain work assignments, new procedures, and safe operation methods to other lockmen.
• Conduct a thorough shift turnover with the oncoming shift, and lock vessels through a lock and dam site and perform overall project security.
• Perform and/or direct the repair of equipment and perform maintenance of equipment at a Lock and Dam Facility along with performing operational or functional checks on machinery to avoid equipment breakdowns.
• Perform maintenance of lock and dam features by following written documentation or oral instructions.
• Operate tow haulage unit to move barges in and out of the lock chamber; control valves controlling flow of water for emptying and filling operations; controls to raise or lower dam gates in accordance with specific instructions and/or own judgment.
• Respond appropriately to accidents to immediately assist and make safe the situation, and perform proper notifications once an accident occurs, and observe weather (and ice) conditions and conditions of craft desiring entry.
• Enforce safety regulations and methods to avoid hazards to personnel, property, or vessels, and complete accident and incident reports within established timeframes.
• Perform tasks and instruct others on safe lock and dam operating procedures, ensure safety equipment and clothing (personal protective equipment) is worn properly to ensure proper protection, and recognize safety hazards in the working environment.
• Read, monitor, and record river gauge readings and determine that water level in the lock chamber is proper for gate operation.
• Obtain and/or direct others to obtain and record required statistical data for each lockage and enter into Lock Performance Monitoring System (LPMS) system.

How you will be evaluated

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. You may claim Military Spouse preference.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) applicants will receive preference consideration and will be placed (if selected) at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined best qualified, up to and including the full performance level. You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference.

DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicants will receive preference consideration at the full-performance grade level only. Only MSP/PPP applicants currently occupying a formal training program position are entitled to exercise their priority status. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).

If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position.

To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above.

Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

Documents you must provide

• The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc).
• Please review the following links to see which documents you need to provide to prove your eligibility to apply: Applicant Checklist for Internal/Merit Promotion Announcements.
• As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply.
• If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
• Your resume: Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
• Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement.
• If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
• Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood.
• The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.
• Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable Proof of Eligibility to Apply: Your application must include the documents which prove you are eligible to apply for the vacancy.
• The Proof of Eligibility document describes authorities commonly used in merit promotion recruitment and what document(s) are required to prove you meet the requirements of the authority.
• You must meet the requirements of at least one of the authorities listed in the Who May Apply section above to receive further consideration.
• NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office.
• Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you.
• You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application.
• You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

What to expect next

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.

Additional information

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.

You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.

This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.

Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a background investigation. Direct deposit of pay is required. This is a Career Field 18 Engineers and Scientists position.

Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.