HEAD DAM OPERATOR

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HEAD DAM OPERATOR

Department of the Army

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

OPERATIONS DIVISION, NORTHERN AREA OFFICE, BLUE MARSH LAKE

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• Summary
• This job is open to
• Duties
• Requirements
• How you will be evaluated
• Required documents
• How to apply

Summary

About the Position: Serves as Head Dam Operator for the Northern Area Office, Blue Marsh Lake. Responsible for Operation and Maintenance duties involving an earthen-filled, multi-purpose dam with hydraulically controlled intake/outlet systems, operation and maintenance of the Bernville Protective Works, Day Use Area, Visitor Center, Stilling Basin, two launch areas, primitive camping areas, and remote parking access areas.

Learn more about this agency

Summary

About the Position: Serves as Head Dam Operator for the Northern Area Office, Blue Marsh Lake. Responsible for Operation and Maintenance duties involving an earthen-filled, multi-purpose dam with hydraulically controlled intake/outlet systems, operation and maintenance of the Bernville Protective Works, Day Use Area, Visitor Center, Stilling Basin, two launch areas, primitive camping areas, and remote parking access areas.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Leesport, PA

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $32.96 - $38.52 per hour Pay scale & grade

WG 11

Promotion potential None

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 5401 Miscellaneous Industrial Equipment Operation

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No

Drug test Yes Security clearance Not Required Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number CERD-26-13088317-DHA Control number 889160000

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

See "Who May Apply" in the "Qualifications" section for more information on who is eligible to apply for this position.

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Duties

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• Develops daily, weekly, monthly work schedules and sequence of operations for subordinates.
• Directs and/or performs the operation and maintenance of all equipment and machinery for opening and closing of selective withdrawal, service and emergency dam gates
• Oversees the maintenance of reservoir water levels, and the regulation of reservoir flows in accordance with established operational guides
• Directs the operation and maintenance of all auxiliary equipment including pumps, motors, energy generator, etc.
• Periodically tests and inspects all equipment and machinery for wear, corrosion and general deterioration and reports need for more extensive repairs and malfunctioning of equipment to higher authority
• Inspects, performs or directs maintenance and minor repair of dam structures including spillway, intake structure, outlet tunnel, cut and fill slopes (to correct cracks, seepage, spalling, loss of grade, loose rip-rap, etc.)
• Oversees the operation and maintenance of the Bernville Protective Works, which involves: large levee and ponding areas, pump station with ten pumps, two retention dams, sluice gates, pressure gates, and the 105,000 gallon fire water storage tank
• Directs and/or performs maintenance operations and inspections of Day Use Area facilities
• Maintains the operation of beaches, recreation areas; Stilling Basin; Visitor Center; roads; landscape; gutters; catch basins and culverts; buoy system; parking areas and appurtenant structures to include the sewage collection and treatment system.
• Oversees the maintenance and repair of 300 gallon sprayer, mowing machinery, dump truck, deck-over-wheels trailer, salt spreader, tractor with backhoe/front-end loader, and other equipment assigned to maintenance functions.
• Answers questions from the public, provides tours and briefings.
• Provides cross training of permanent maintenance personnel on dam operations to include reading of instrumentation, recording data, gate changes and other operations necessary in the absence of dam operators.
• Establishes deadlines and priorities on the basis of general work schedules and methods, and policies established in conjunction with and approved by higher levels of supervision.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• May be required to serve a one year probationary period, if not already completed.
• Must be willing to take and pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test and must be willing and able to pass random drug and alcohol (to include urine analysis) tests thereafter.
• Must have a valid state drivers license.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a USACE license to operate boats/vessels, less than 26 feet in length.
• Must be willing and able to lift objects weighing more than 50 lbs.
• Must be willing and able to travel away from your permanent duty station up to 25% of the time.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a CPR, First Aid and Dam Safety license/certificate.
• Required to take a pre-employment physical and every two years therafter.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) HEAD DAM OPERATOR without more than normal supervision. Qualified applicants must show in their resume the ability to do the work of a Head Dam Operator such as administration, operation and maintenance of a multipurpose flood control project; operation and maintenance of vehicles and equipment; plan and direct the work activities of lower graded employees. - Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

Physical Effort:

Periodically lifts and moves objects weighing fifty (50) pounds or more. Frequent arm and leg movement in manipulating gears and controls when operating equipment.

Working Conditions:

Work is usually performed outdoors with frequent exposure to long periods or hot sun or freezing temperatures. Subject to certain hazards (burns, fumes, shock, drowning, cuts, bruises) in performing and overseeing maintenance details

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

• This announcement uses the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce direct hire authority to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to certain positions in the competitive service
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is an Engineers and Scientists (Resources and Construction) Career Program position aligned under the Construction, Analysis, Science, Infrastructure & Engineers (CASIE) Career Management Directorate.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• Relocation or recruitment incentive may be authorized pending management and district approval and interest.

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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

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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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.

If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.

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.

Required documents

Required Documents

Help

Your complete application includes your resume and other documents which prove your qualifications and eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

• Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employers name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
• Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about whats in your resume.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.

2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional

NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another persons personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

How to Apply

Help

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/30/2026 to receive consideration.

• To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13088317).
• Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the Required Documents section.
• You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete.
• It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
• Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk

Website https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq Address RD-W2SF04 US ARMY ENGINEER DIST-PHILADELPHIA

DO NOT MAIL

Philadelphia, PA 19103

US

Next steps

Eligible applicants will be referred to the hiring manager. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews.

Acknowledgement and Notice of Results letters will be sent by the hiring office.The evaluation will be based on the information you provide.

You should expect that we will verify performance, suitability, and security information and take that information into account in making employment offers.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Required Documents

Help

Your complete application includes your resume and other documents which prove your qualifications and eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

• Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employers name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
• Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about whats in your resume.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.

2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional

NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another persons personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

How to Apply

Help

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/30/2026 to receive consideration.

• To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13088317).
• Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the Required Documents section.
• You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete.
• It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
• Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Expand Hide how to apply

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk

Website https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq Address RD-W2SF04 US ARMY ENGINEER DIST-PHILADELPHIA

DO NOT MAIL

Philadelphia, PA 19103

US

Next steps

Eligible applicants will be referred to the hiring manager. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews.

Acknowledgement and Notice of Results letters will be sent by the hiring office.The evaluation will be based on the information you provide.

You should expect that we will verify performance, suitability, and security information and take that information into account in making employment offers.

Expand Hide next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Build Strong With Us at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), where engineering excellence meets public service. As the Nations premier engineering, design, and construction management agency, we deliver innovative and efficient solutions that strengthen national security, support economic growth, and reduce disaster risks for communities across the country.

At USACE, you will find meaningful work, collaborative teams, and opportunities to grow your career while making a lasting impact. We seek talented professionals with vision, creativity, leadership, and technical expertise to help solve some of the Nations toughest engineering challenges.

Build your purpose. Build your profession. Build your future. Discover why USACE is a great place to work and Build Strong With Us.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk

Website https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq Address RD-W2SF04 US ARMY ENGINEER DIST-PHILADELPHIA

DO NOT MAIL

Philadelphia, PA 19103

US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what its like to work at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.usace.army.mil/Careers/

Summary

About the Position: Serves as Head Dam Operator for the Northern Area Office, Blue Marsh Lake. Responsible for Operation and Maintenance duties involving an earthen-filled, multi-purpose dam with hydraulically controlled intake/outlet systems, operation and maintenance of the Bernville Protective Works, Day Use Area, Visitor Center, Stilling Basin, two launch areas, primitive camping areas, and remote parking access areas.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Leesport, PA

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $32.96 - $38.52 per hour Pay scale & grade

WG 11

Promotion potential None

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 5401 Miscellaneous Industrial Equipment Operation

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No

Drug test Yes Security clearance Not Required Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number CERD-26-13088317-DHA Control number 889160000

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