Summary This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), within the Contract Administration organization (TPCC) of Customer Service Engineering (TPC), System Planning (TP), Transmission Services (T). As a senior specialist, you will manage customer grid connection requests and key energy contracts. You will be the lead expert on federal compliance, managing financial risk, and shaping how customers connect to the BPA grid. Responsibilities Power the Future: Be the Connection Point for the Pacific Northwest's Power Grid At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), we're at the center of the nation's energy transition. We're seeking a pivotal expert to join our team-someone who can navigate the complex world of energy contracts and regulations to ensure a reliable, affordable, and accessible power grid for millions. This isn't just a contracts job; it's your chance to play a key role in shaping the future of energy transmission by connecting new resources to the grid. As a Public Utilities Specialist (Contracts), you will: Serve as a Strategic Leader: Take the lead in identifying weaknesses in our current processes and spearhead the development of functional improvements that simplify and streamline how we execute contracts. Become the Go-To Compliance Expert: Act as the subject matter expert for federal regulations governing grid access and internal financial controls, ensuring our operations are compliant while mitigating financial risk to the agency. Manage Complex, High-Impact Contracts: Independently develop and manage a diverse portfolio of unique, non-standard agreements for new and upgraded transmission facilities, from laboratory services to new customer connections. Lead Interconnection Process Improvement: As the team lead for the Generator Interconnection Team, you will analyze the queue of incoming projects and develop innovative business practices and process improvements to resolve bottlenecks. Draft the Next Generation of Contracts: Lead the creation of new contract templates from the ground up, collaborating with legal, accounting, and engineering teams to ensure all new agreements are solid and compliant. Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration: Represent your team with internal and external stakeholders, including other federal agencies, to influence and develop enhanced, streamlined contracting and financial processes with broad-reaching impact. Mentor and Guide Your Colleagues: Provide expert policy guidance, systems training, and technical expertise to other specialists, engineers, and account executives, serving as a recognized authority in contract administration. Shape the Customer Connection Experience: Oversee the queue of customer requests to connect to the grid, taking decisive action to resolve issues and provide expert recommendations to leadership that support effective and efficient grid access. 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. This is a temporary promotion, not to exceed one (1) year, may be extended up to five (5) year's total; may be made permanent without further competition. Upon termination of the promotion, you will be returned to your original position of record, or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay. Temporary promotions may be terminated at any time based on the needs of management. If you are currently employed at a grade equivalent to, or higher than the advertised position, the action will be considered a detail for processing purposes, and no salary increase will be associated with accepting the position. Details are processed in 120-day increments and may be extended up to two (2) year's total; additional extensions may be approved at the discretion of the Human Resources Service Center Director. Upon termination of the detail, you will be returned to your original position of record. Details may be terminated at any time based on needs of management. 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: Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually. Since this function will provide for and support the needs of both Power and Transmission, the incumbent will need to fully understand internal risk management controls (OMB A-123), internal contract policies and procedures, and Standards of Conduct (SOC) guidelines. Qualifications SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience in 1) applying policy interpretation and guidance to ensure the Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Orders, and/or other regulatory policies and compliance requirements are adhered to; 2) leading contract development and management by analyzing customer requirements, technical evaluations, calculations, and analyses; and 3) applying effective communication skills to build and maintain a cross-organizational business relationship and provide advisory services to management resolving complex contract issues. "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 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 There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position. 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 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.B
Bonneville Power Administration