Customer Account Executive (Real-Time Trader and Scheduler)

Summary

This position is within the Real-Time Trading and Scheduling, Trading Floor group of Bulk Marketing within Power Services at the Bonneville Power Administration. Shape the future of regional power! In this dynamic role, you will execute fast-paced energy trades, optimize transmission, and balance wholesale electricity flow across the Pacific Northwest. We are seeking sharp, decisive analysts ready to drive real-time financial and operational decisions.

Duties

Power the Pacific Northwest: Step to the Front Lines of the Clean Energy Market At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our mission is to power the Pacific Northwest with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity while protecting the environment and driving regional prosperity. As an Energy Trader and Scheduler on our 24/7 high-tech trading floor, you sit at the financial and operational throttle of the regional power grid. In this dynamic, high-visibility role, your analytical agility and split-second decisions directly influence millions of dollars in wholesale power transactions, optimize one of the nation's largest carbon-free hydropower systems, and ensure lights stay on for millions of homes and businesses across the Pacific Northwest. Key Responsibilities & Career Impact Here are the eight most critical, high-impact duties where you will make a difference: Execute High-Impact Wholesale Power Trades Analyze changing power demand, weather forecasts, and river conditions to formulate and execute competitive day-ahead, hour-ahead, and real-time energy bids. You will buy and sell electricity and grid support services across major West Coast trading hubs to maximize commercial revenue and protect low consumer power rates. Capitalize on Advanced Regional Energy Markets Drive strategic participation in organized regional electricity markets-including the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM)-using sophisticated market analytics to capture fast-moving financial opportunities, dispatch excess generation, and optimize regional clean energy utilization. Optimize Bulk Power Transmission Assets Manage the real-time capacity of critical high-voltage transmission corridors. You will commercially redirect, purchase, or resell surplus transmission capacity to eliminate bottlenecks, minimize delivery costs, and capture profitable power-routing opportunities across utility lines. Navigate Grid Emergencies & Maintain Operational Reliability Serve as a front-line decision-maker during unexpected plant outages, extreme weather events, or periods of high seasonal generation. You will execute emergency operational protocols to balance supply and demand instantly, protecting the regional grid from brownouts and expensive penalties. Orchestrate Complex Power Delivery Across the Grid Coordinate and author the electronic routing tags and delivery schedules required to move electricity seamlessly across utility boundaries. By resolving real-time schedule adjustments and unexpected line issues, you ensure power arrives reliably without costly unauthorized flow penalties. Deliver Least-Cost Solutions for Regional Wholesale Customers Monitor wholesale customer power usage in real time and strategically schedule energy supplies to meet their dynamic load needs. Your proactive supply management protects partner utilities and their communities from volatile open-market imbalance charges. Implement Innovative Demand Response Programs Collaborate with energy efficiency and technology specialists to activate modern demand response products and flexible contracts. By incentivizing major energy users to shift electricity usage during peak periods, you help maintain system balance during critical grid hours. Lead Trading Floor Innovation & Operational Excellence Collaborate cross-functionally with legal, financial, and risk experts to refine trading playbooks, mentor incoming trading personnel, and test next-generation scheduling software. You will directly shape the trading floor's standard operating procedures and technological capabilities. This position is located in Portland, OR which boasts huge spans of amazing trees, foliage, landscape, and everywhere you look you can appreciate beautiful greenery! It is known as the most bike-friendly city in America, has a train system that greets you at the airport spanning across the city, and is home to the Portland International Rose Garden, the oldest in the country! Portland is the one place where you will find lively festivals, energetic music, mouthwatering food, and for you basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers are a 7 minute walk from the HQs building! There is always something new to experience in this eco-friendly town! Requirements

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. 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. Key Requirements: You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. You will be required to report in person to the official duty location. ROTATING 12-HR SHIFT WORK IS REQUIRED. Must possess good computer aptitude and the ability to effectively develop and use computer spreadsheets. Stays abreast of Microsoft Office products to support Scheduling, including e-mails and calendar and preparing reports in Excel, Word and PowerPoint. This position is subject to FERC SOC non-discrimination rules and restrictions prohibiting disclosure of certain information to Power Merchant Function employees. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Standards of Conduct (SOC): The incumbent is required to have a working knowledge of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Standards of Conduct (SOC) to ensure fair competition in the open access transmission market though compliance with its basic principles. The FERC SOC basic principles require BPA's Transmission Function employees and its affiliated Power Merchant Function employees to function independently and abide by non-discriminatory information access and prohibited disclosure regulations for transmission-related information that is not equally available to all customers. In addition, the incumbent is required to complete BPA's mandatory SOC training. Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the meeting the basic requirement, a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. GS-09: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07), in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience in 1) administering a computer system and assisting in performing system troubleshooting techniques; and 2) preparing routine reports in word-processing or data-processing programs for senior specialists or management. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or master's, or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) applying a variety of economic, accounting, or logistics principles for the purchase sale or delivery of commodities, financial. or other products 2) establishing business practices to contract for the purchase, sale, or delivery of securities, commodities, financial or other products, and 3) researching and summarizing data for analysis of electric, gas, or other industry pricing or logistics practices. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-12: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) communicating pertinent marketing, scheduling or technology information; 2) providing technical support to assist in the scheduling of power; and 3) interpreting program policies and procedures to determine best practices to accomplish program goals. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level. "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. Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration. CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system. Failure to provide college transcripts may result in a rating of 'Ineligible'. How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process. Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, you will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Non-competitive Procedures: If you are applying under a non-competitive or special hiring authority, you will still be required to answer the assessment questions. However, you will not be evaluated against the rating and ranking criteria. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you are minimally qualified for this job. Veterans' Preference will be applied when required by the hiring authority (e.g., VRA, Schedule A). All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion and VEOA applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/14/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13108660. Other Information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/ Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations. BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment. We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.