Public Utilities Specialist (Metering)

Summary This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in Metering Services (MSM) organization of Customer Support Services (MS), Business Management & Development (M). A successful candidate in this position will serve as a Public Utilities Specialist (Metering), accountable for providing timely and accurate revenue meter data for BPA's internal and external customers and lead or participate in developing and implementing plans for metering systems enhancements. Responsibilities As a Public Utilities Specialist (Metering), you will: Participate in refinement/improvement efforts to identify and implement process and system enhancements for all systems within Metering Services. Participate in the testing of new systems upgrades to ensure quality data transfer and orderly implementation. Participate in planning and coordinating outages of critical business systems to ensure continuous operations among Portland, Vancouver, and Spokane locations and tests the transfer and back-up of alternate operations. Retrieve and analyze Metering data collected from BPA customers in order to validate customer use of Power and Transmission products and services constituting the core bases of revenue to BPA. Perform statistical analysis and reporting required by Regulatory, Tariff and Rates requirements; and provides statistical information to internal and external customers, consultants, and other federal entities. Works with Meter data collection team to help field personnel troubleshoot metering problems. Prepare documentation to support analysis and reasoning for selected approach and method used to prepare usage estimates. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Conditions of Employment: A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check. Qualifications SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: GS-9: 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-7] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience 1) Retrieving data collected from customers in order to evaluate customer use of products and services; 2) entering data in a data management system; and 3) providing assistance to internal customers by coordinating with staff to resolve issues. At the GS-9 level you may substitute education for experience with a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related 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-9] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience 1) Retrieving and analyzing data collected from customers in order to validate customer use of products and services; 2) entering and validating data in a data management system; and 3) providing support on data issues to internal and external customers. At the GS-11 level you may substitute education for experience with a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related 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: Experience 1) independently evaluating hardware and software system enhancements; 2) retrieving and analyzing metering data collected from customers in order to validate customer use of utility products and services; AND 3) Testing system upgrades or operations and providing findings to lead staff members. 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. 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'. Additional 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.