Bonneville Power Administration
Program Specialist (Hotline)
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Summary
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 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-12] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) Independently planning, organizing, and conducting complex investigations into workplace concerns, employee misconduct, ethics violations, or allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse, including interviewing witnesses, gathering and analyzing documentary evidence, and maintaining confidential case records; and 2) Serving as a liaison or primary point of contact for external or internal oversight bodies (such as Office of Inspector General, regulatory agencies, internal audit, ethics offices, or legal counsel), coordinating referrals, analyzing complaint and trend data to draft technical investigative reports, and developing outreach or training to promote program awareness and reporting mechanisms. "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.
Major Duties
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! Champion Integrity and Power the Pacific Northwest: Lead BPA's Hotline & Employee Concerns Program At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our mission is to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy to the Pacific Northwest while championing environmental stewardship and public trust. Central to achieving this vision is an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, workplace fairness, and ethical accountability. As the Program Specialist (Hotline & Employee Concerns) within our Oversight Organization, you will serve as a vital guardian of agency integrity. In this high-visibility, high-impact role, you will lead complex investigations, partner directly with federal oversight leaders, and empower a culture of transparency across the organization. Key Duties & Responsibilities Lead Complex, High-Stakes Investigations Independently plan, organize, and execute thorough, objective investigations into complex employee concerns-including fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and safety reprisal allegations-ensuring complete confidentiality, fairness, and strict adherence to federal standards. Serve as the Primary Federal Oversight Liaison Act as BPA's primary point of contact for Department of Energy Office of Inspector General (OIG) referrals. Triage high-level complaints, coordinate investigation milestones, and draft executive response packages and corrective action reports for agency leadership. Conduct Strategic Triage and Risk Assessments Perform immediate, high-level risk evaluations on incoming reports to determine jurisdictional scope, legal requirements, and appropriate resolution paths (such as formal investigations, management inquiries, or specialized referrals). Formulate Evidence-Based Investigative Strategies Develop tailored investigative plans, interview witnesses, gather and secure critical documentation, and author clear, comprehensive findings that guide executive decision-making and systemic operational improvements. Provide Trusted Guidance and Conflict Resolution Offer expert, confidential advice to employees and managers regarding their workplace rights, standards of conduct, ethics guidelines, and alternative dispute resolution options. Drive Agency-Wide Education & Outreach Design, deliver, and evaluate engaging training sessions and educational materials across the agency to promote hotline awareness, employee rights, and a culture free from retaliation. Analyze Case Data & Elevate Program Effectiveness Track, analyze, and report on complaint trends to uncover root causes, perform periodic program self-assessments, and provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership to continuously improve operations. Collaborate Across Key Executive & Legal Functions Build strong collaborative partnerships with Human Resources, Legal Counsel, Security, and internal management to verify that systemic corrective actions are implemented effectively across all agency operations.
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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes: Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume. Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement: SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information. Individuals with Disabilities: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center. Certain Military Spouses: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center. Other non-competitive or special appointing authorities: provide documentation which supports your eligibility. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition. Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. If selected for the position you MUST submit: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and incentive awards, you received in the last 5 years. The assigned HR Specialist will verify review this documentation to ensure selectee has at least a satisfactory performance rating before setting the entrance on duty date. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you will be asked to submit a statement as to why it is not available.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can reuse the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application. You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://login.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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. If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.