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 vital liaison, you will manage grid connection requests and create complex, high-impact transmission agreements. By ensuring regulatory compliance and streamlining processes, you will support our energy partners and safeguard the financial integrity of our power system.

Duties

Help

1. Navigate Grid Connections for Energy Partners - Facilitate and manage customer requests to connect new energy generation to our regional transmission system. You will guide energy partners through the queue, resolving bottlenecks and ensuring fair, timely, and compliant process progression.
2. Develop and Execute High-Value Transmission Contracts - Design, draft, and implement complex commercial contracts. You will manage agreements covering everything from initial feasibility studies and engineering to construction, equipment testing, and balancing authority transitions.
3. Serve as a Trusted Advisor to Key Leaders - Act as a central policy expert and consultant. You will provide strategic recommendations and regulatory guidance to BPA managers, account executives, and external customer teams, helping them navigate complex contracting rules.
4. Champion Regulatory Compliance - Serve as the program lead to ensure BPA's open-access transmission tariffs and operational guidelines are strictly followed. You will interpret evolving federal energy regulations and ensure all actions align with legal and commercial standards.
5. Govern Financial Risks and Internal Safeguards - Act as a key technical resource for federal financial management rules (such as OMB Circular A-123). You will evaluate business practices and implement robust internal controls to protect BPA from commercial and financial risks.
6. Spearhead Process and Operational Improvements - Proactively analyze current contracting workflows to identify inefficiencies or policy gaps. You will design, communicate, and implement streamlined procedures that accelerate project delivery and improve customer satisfaction.
7. Deliver End-to-End Contract Administration - Oversee the entire lifecycle of executed contracts. This includes managing amendments, tracking milestones, verifying billing accuracy, and coordinating with financial teams to create project work orders.
8. Build Collaborative, Cross-Organizational Alliances - Build and maintain powerful working relationships across diverse BPA teams, including environmental specialists, transmission planners, lawyers, and engineers. You will also represent your group on cross-agency initiative teams to standardize modern utility business practices.

Requirements

Help

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.
• 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:

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 experience applying policies and procedures to support contract development and project administration to 1) assist in the management of customer interconnection requests within a regulated utility's business and compliance framework, such as an Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) queue; and 2) administer contracts for technical services, including tasks like tracking milestones, processing payments, and coordinating with internal and external parties.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.M., if related; 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). One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours the graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If the graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study is not available, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is used. When crediting education that requires specific course work the number of hours of related courses required, as a proportion of the total education, is prorated.

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) managing customer interconnection requests by interpreting and applying regulations, policies, and business practices related to utility transmission systems, such as an Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT); 2) developing, implementing, and administering a variety of contracts for technical services, e.g., engineering studies, construction projects, or facility upgrades; and 3) providing technical guidance to stakeholders to ensure compliance with applicable standards and contract terms.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 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'.

Additional information

• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.