First Mate Tender

Full Job Description

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Competitive Positions to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: As a First Mate, Tender, assigned to the Dredge Jadwin, Operations Division, River Operations Branch, the incumbent serves as a First Mate, Tender on inland waterways.

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job.

You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected.

See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

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. There is no specific length of training or experience required.

However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) First Mate Tender without more than normal supervisionwhich includes the ability to perform the full range of tasks associated with the engine room machinery and equipment including the main propelling engines, pumping engines, auxillary pumps, machinery on the vessel and attendant plant and electric/electronic systems; tasks associated with checking oil levels, monitoring generators, gearboxes, generator temperatures, and fuel levels.

- Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work is performed inside and outside, subjecting employee to varying climatic conditions, abnormal noises, temperature, danger of burns, irritation from grease and oils, bruises, strains, dangers involved in attending moving machinery, possible drowning from falling overboard, electrical shock, falls on slippery decks or steep stairways, crankcase explosion.

PHYSICAL EFFORT Incumbent performs work from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms and where the parts, equipment, or systems are in hard-to-reach places.

Work requires the incumbent to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and work in a tiring and uncomfortable position.

Frequently lifts, carries, and sets up parts and equipment that weigh up to 40 pounds All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

• Serves as Apprentice Mate (Steersman) on an inland waterway towboat
• Stationed in the pilot house receiving on-the-job experience and exposure to the more specialized practices and procedures associated with piloting towboat.
• Under the immediate guidance of the journeyman pilot on watch, operates the controls governing the navigation of the vessel. Trains in steering the vessel from the pilot house, controlling the speed and direction of the engines.