Water Treatment Plant Operator

About the role

You will serve as a Water Treatment Plant Operator with the National Park Service at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the "operator in charge" of a water treatment plant or facility where the water requires both non-filtration and filtration processes to change the taste, odor, physical, chemical, or bacteriological content of the water.

What you will do

• This position serves as a Water Treatment Plant Operator within a specific park unit of the National Park Service (NPS).
• The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the "operator in charge" of a water treatment plant or facility where the water requires both nonfiltration and filtration processes to change the taste, odor, physical, chemical, or bacteriological content of the water.
• The water treatment plant/facility to which the incumbent is assigned is geographically remote from the supervisor or is a plant/facility that requires the incumbent to take on shift responsibility and decision-making authority regarding plant operations.
• Major Duties: - Independently operates and evaluates complex public drinking water treatment systems, ensuring continuous production and distribution of potable water while maintaining compliance with Federal and State drinking water regulations; - Performs preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, calibration, and adjustment of treatment equipment to minimize downtime, ensure continuous potable water service, and support regulatory compliance; - Serves as the designated Operator in Charge and is responsible for making independent operational decisions that directly affect drinking water quality, regulatory compliance, public health, system reliability, and visitor safety; - Ensures the accuracy of drinking water treatment operations, regulatory compliance, laboratory sampling, operational monitoring, and documentation; - Maintains water quality, complies with Federal and California drinking water regulations, and protects public health;

Requirements

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• To learn more, visit ***
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs or more regularly.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
• This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.
• In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
• Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

How you will be evaluated

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading) Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc. Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc. Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

DUE WEIGHT: 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 or 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 do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) .

To be considered under CTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors, experience and/or physical requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) -09/24/2026-unless otherwise stated.
• Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed.
• If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
• Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted.
• The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text.
• All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression.
• Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
• Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the qualification requirements.
• More information on how to write a Federal Resume: *** Complete All Required Assessments.
• Performance Appraisals and Awards: All applicants must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor.
• If the performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months OR no performance appraisal is available, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
• Documentation that you meet the Selective Factor - a.
• D2/T2 Water Treatment Operators Certification.
• Provide copy of D2/T2 Water Treatment Operator Certificate. b.
• Provide copy of Driver's License issued by a government entity such as the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Eligibility Documentation: Current NPS employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held.
• Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s.
• If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year.
• Do not submit award SF-50s.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including a copy of the agency notice, most recent performance rating, and most recent SF-50 showing your position, grade level, and duty location.
• For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
• Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
• Do not submit photographs with your application package.
• Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.

What to expect next

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email.

Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at ***

Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education.

If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.

Physical Demands: Duties require the incumbent to sit, stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, crawl, work in uncomfortable positions, and walk over rough, uneven terrain. The incumbent wears protective clothing, gloves, face shields, and/or respirator that may be uncomfortable; and the incumbent works from ladders, scaffolds, and elevated platforms.

The incumbent may be occasionally expected to lift and/or carry items up to and exceeding 50 pounds in weight. Working Conditions: Work is both indoors and outdoors. Work outside may be subject to extreme weather conditions, with wind, rain, snow, and ice, in temperatures ranging from below 0 to over 100 degrees.

Depending on the geography of the park unit assigned, work may take place at elevations ranging from sea level up to 10,000 feet.

The incumbent is exposed to dust, noise, vibration, cuts, and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment, and may occasionally be exposed to hazardous chemicals that can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and burns, as well as microbiological organisms and potentially hazardous wildlife.

The incumbent is expected to wear personnel protective equipment as required and comply with all safety and occupational health requirements.