Summary This position is located in the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Electric Program, Office of Loan Origination and Analysis, Engineering Branch. The Electric Program provides capital and leadership to maintain, expand, upgrade and modernize America's vast rural electric infrastructure. Responsibilities Primary responsibilities include a focus on cybersecurity, grid security and resilience, and impact of natural disasters or other grid or system emergencies as relates to Electric Program borrower systems. Monitors proposed rules, regulations and legislation as relates to grid security and cybersecurity and any potential impact on Electric Program borrowers as well as the rural member-consumers they serve. All responsibilities of this position should be carried out with the highest standards of customer service, including courtesy and responsiveness in dealing with employees, other agency officials, borrowers and their organizations. Monitors Electric Program borrower system damage and outages as relates to natural disasters or other grid or system emergencies and coordinates guidance and assistance to borrowers under Electric Program regulations. Provides technical policy guidance and direction to Electric Program staff and borrowers. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks for service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Basic Requirement: Possess one of the following: (1) a degree in professional engineering from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum OR (2) a degree in engineering that includes differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry). These courses included at least five of the following areas of engineering science or physics: statics, dynamics; strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); fluid mechanics, hydraulics; thermodynamics; electrical fields and circuits; nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR Be currently registered as a professional engineer by a State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico OR I am registered by a State Board in the field of Civil Engineering by way of grandfathering or eminence provisions. OR Have successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration administered by the Board of Engineering Examiners. I have completed all the requirements for either (a) a bachelor's degree in engineering technology (BET) from an accredited college or university that included 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, or (b) a BET from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). OR Have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry). These courses included at least five of the following areas of engineering science or physics: statics, dynamics; strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); fluid mechanics, hydraulics; thermodynamics; electrical fields and circuits; nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR Have successfully completed a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology AND have at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement outlined above, you must also meet the following specialized experience requirement outlined below. Specialized Experience: For the GS- 14 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-13); or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Determining that basic systems plans, in support of loan applications, developed by Electric program borrowers are in accordance with acceptable engineering standards; providing technical policy guidance and necessary direction on work pertaining to engineering and construction of electrical systems; maintaining oversight of borrower's technical operations and maintenance practices in relation of electrical systems; utilizing advanced engineering principles and techniques in order to plan or manage engineering work; analyzing scientific, technical, or financial data to determine its accuracy and completeness; utilizing established techniques to review economic or financial data to estimate or analyze the impact of engineering improvement projects to power plants or transmission/distribution electric systems of rural electric utilities. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-14 level. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0850 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. To be eligible for appointment to this position, the new hire must be cleared to come on board once the results of the fingerprint check, review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the candidate's Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory. This position requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement and/or various organizations within Rural Development. Salaries listed in this announcement are an approximation and are subject to duty station locality adjustment.