Small Craft Operating Worker I

Summary

This position is based in the Yuma Shop, Maintenance Management Office, Yuma Area Office, Lower Colorado Basin (LCB) of the Bureau of Reclamation. The purpose of the position is to assist journey level operators in performing a variety of tasks involved with the maintenance and operation of small craft, single and double propeller boats, dredges, booster pumps, anchor barges, front loaders, excavators, bulldozers, diesel pumps, and operating a variety of motor vehicles.

Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Operate small craft, single-propeller boats, booster pumps, and anchor barges under the oversight of a journey-level operator. Navigate and plot courses in open water using knowledge of U.S. Coast Guard "Rules of the Road," anticipating wind and current effects (set and drift). Launch and recover small boats and dredges and perform operator-level preventive maintenance on hulls, decks, engines, winches, compressors, generators, hydraulic pumps, reduction gears, and related equipment. Monitor booster pumps and dredging equipment for proper function, stopping operations to identify and correct issues, while performing operator-level lubrication and coolant checks. Perform routine manual labor duties such as loading/unloading supplies, washing vehicles/boats/dredges, inventorying equipment, and supporting dredging, rigging, and (O&M) operations and maintenance tasks. Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. 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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment. Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive test is received. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC). You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Additional Requirements located under qualifications Qualifications

Requirements Continued... 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 or trial 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. Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/14/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision, Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles), Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Related to Mobile Equipment Operation), Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles), Operation of Motor Vehicles, Reliability and Dependability, and Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) 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. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors. You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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.

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. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position. Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. You will be evaluated on the job-related factors as shown in the Qualifications section above. 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) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Veterans' preference will be based solely on the claimed preference. Your eligibility will not be changed based on the documentation provided. If you are uncertain which preference to claim, you can learn more by visiting the VetGuide. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Other Information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Physical Demands: Physical effort is required to push, pull, and depress the various levers, controls, and equipment on the dredge and dredge tender. Constant reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate engineering equipment and attachments. Considerable strain caused by jolting and jerking of equipment. Frequent lifting, moving, and carrying items up to 40 pounds and occasionally over 50 pounds while loading and unloading cargo and handling heavy equipment, parts, materials, and power equipment. Good hand, foot, and eye coordination required as well as good depth perception and a high degree of concentration to direct or operate equipment controls. Working Conditions: Position is based in Yuma, Arizona which is an arid desert location consisting of high temperature and primarily sunny exposure. Works in all weather conditions, often in open driver's seat exposed to noise, vibration, heat, wind, dust, dirt, blowing sand, exhaust fumes, toxic vapors, and spray. Subject to possible injury caused by swinging ladder, placing of anchors, vehicular accidents, loading and unloading vehicles, or from hand or powered tools used. Subject to cuts, bruises, insect bites, stings, scrapes, burns, infections, and broken bones. Discomfort is experienced while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as clothing, personal floatation device (PFD), goggles, face masks, hard hat, hearing protection, and steel toe boots. All Department of Interior (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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.