Dam Operator

Apply Dam Operator Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Klamath Basin Area Office Apply Print Share * * * * Save * Summary * This job is open to * Duties * Requirements * How you will be evaluated * Required documents * How to apply Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Dam Operator.

You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Dam Operator.

You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon Overview Help Accepting applications Open & closing dates 01/15/2026 to 01/29/2026 Salary $25.78 to - $31.91 per hour Pay scale & grade WG 7 - 8 Location 1 vacancy in the following location: Klamath Falls, OR Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position, approximately 10% of the time.

Relocation expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Term - 2 YEARS Work schedule Full-time Service Competitive Promotion potential 8 Job family (Series) * 5401 Miscellaneous Industrial Equipment Operation Supervisory status No Security clearance Not Required Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk Trust determination process * Suitability/Fitness Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit status No Announcement number BOR-CGB-26-MP-12863018-RM Control number 854517700 This job is open to Help Federal employees - Competitive service Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Land and base management Current or former employees of a base management agency.

Veterans Veterans of the U.S.

Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference Military spouses Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals with disabilities Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Special authorities Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Clarification from the agency See Who May Apply under Requirements for more information on who is eligible to apply for this position.

Duties Help NOTE: This recruitment is for a TERM position.

It is a time limited position and MAY be extended up to a maximum of five years.

For current DOI employees this MAY be a TEMP PROMOTION or TEMP REASSIGNMENT NTE . The position MAY be converted to a permanent, career or career conditional appointment without further competition as long as all requirements are met.

The incumbent works under closer than normal supervision at the trainee level performing assignments designed to provide the competencies, skills, and experience required to perform the more complex work at the journey man level.

The work increases in difficulty, complexity, and responsibility as the incumbent gains experience and demonstrates a full comprehension of the target level position.

As a trainee, this position may be eligible for non-competitive promotion to the target position upon meeting the following requirements: (1) The incumbent demonstrates the ability to perform at the target grade level; (2) Higher-level work exists at the target grade level; (3) Increased responsibilities are assigned; (4) The supervisor recommends promotion; and (5) the incumbent completes all required training and conditions of employment.

Consequently, promotion is not guaranteed.

As a trainee, the incumbent must perform work under the direct supervision and oversight of a journey level position.

The primary duty of this position is the operation of multiple Dams within the Klamath Project, located in Southern Oregon and Northern California.

* Operates electrical and mechanical equipment to regulate the positions of the gates and stop logs that comprise the control structures of Link River, Keno Dams Gerber, Clear Lake dams and various diversion dams and pumping plants.

* Requires extensive knowledge of performing water operation tasks for irrigation and flood control, calculating, and making prescribed water releases, recording reservoir elevations and gate openings.

* Performs a variety of trades and crafts duties associated with the maintenance and operation of the Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO), its grounds and facilities, using skills, techniques and methods of carpentry, painting, masonry, pipefitting, welding, irrigating, and calculating water releases.

* Coordinates with representatives of irrigation districts, individual water users, and other federal offices (e.g., U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service) regarding water operations.

* Operates the gates at Link River and Keno Dams to maintain the required elevation of Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) and Lake Ewauna, as well as the flow rate in the Klamath River downstream of Keno Dam in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements.

* Operates the emergency stand-by generator to provide electrical power to the Dam during utility system outages or on a monthly basis, as required by the maintenance schedule, for the emergency backup equipment.

* Maintains accurate and legible records of the daily operations of the Dams and enters the information in the logbook in accordance with format prescribed by the Standing Operating Procedures for both Keno and Link River Dams.

* Reads, records, and transmits lake elevation data, downstream river flow rates and stage data, staff gage readings at reservoirs and conveyance system control points and all other required information.

* Operations may be required at any hour of the day, night, or weekend as dictated by the operations schedule, varying climatic conditions, or flood control requirements.

* Performs maintenance work on canals, drains, and water facility structures, including dams, pumping plants, check structure turnouts, and bridges, etc.

Places earthwork and riprap.

Repairs, paints, and replaces water control gates and pipes.

* Constructs, installs, repairs, or modifies wooden items and structures, such as panels, concrete forms, dry walls, framework, interior and exterior trim, cabinets, fences, bridges, etc.

Measures and cuts materials to required dimensions, assembles with appropriate hardware or adhesives, and finishes completed work (e.g., planes, sands, seals, paints) as necessary.

* Performs fabrication and welding, including Metal Insert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Insert Gas (TIG), Arc and gas welding and cutting, operations on mild steel, cast iron, and aluminum to build or repair gates, bulk heads, turnouts, and stop logs.

Requirements Help Conditions of employment You must be a U.S.

Citizen or U.S.

National.

You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.

You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads.

Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.

You must either possess a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) at the time of application or be willing to obtain a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) if selected for this position.

Failure to maintain a Class A CDL will result in the termination of appointment.

You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position.

A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months.

The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.

You will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment as a condition of employment.

This position is also subject to random drug testing.

You must obtain and maintain a current Forklift Operator's license, State Herbicide license, Fixed Crane certification, Rigger certification, various Dam Tenders certification courses and a valid CPR and First Aid certificate.

Failure to meet certification requirements could result in adverse consequences.

You are required to work a rotating weekend and holiday schedule.

you are required to perform temporary duty travel (TDY) approximately 10% of the time.

Continue to the Additional Information section for the Condition of Employment For Probationary Period.

Qualifications Who may Apply: * 30% or More Disabled Veterans * Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive) * Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive) * Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) * Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive) * Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive) * Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer) * Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer) * Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement) * Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement) * Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A) * Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) * Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) * Military Spouses * Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities * Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers * Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority * Special Hiring Authorities * Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) * Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA) In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the general work experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

Your application materials must demonstrate sufficient experience and training to perform the duties of this position without more than normal supervision.

Qualifications will be determined on the basis of information submitted within your resume and responses to the assessment questions.

For information about qualifications for Federal Wage System positions please, visit OPM.

Minimum qualifications for trades and labor positions are determined by evaluation of job elements.

You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements in order to be considered qualified for this position.

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, 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 career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 01/29/2026.

Education This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information Condition of Employment For Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: * your performance and conduct; * the needs and interests of the agency; * whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and * whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive.

The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed.

For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you MAY request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment.

For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet.

Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria.

This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed.

(5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit This position is designated as a LOW RISK position.

It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

Go to: This is not a bargaining unit position.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Expand Hide additional information 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