About This Position
Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.
This position is located in Lorton, VA. Information about the surrounding area can be found here: Visit Fairfax County Virginia and here: BLM Lower Potomac Field Station. We expect to fill 1 vacancy; however, additional positions may be filled if available. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 hours.
Qualifications
Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified: Screen-out Element: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. Screen-out Element: Have a current valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
Screen-out Element: Operate one or more of the following small and large wheeled diesel-powered construction equipment such as crawlers (D-6), bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, brush-cutters, and front-end loaders on my own, under normal supervision. WG-08: At this level, Engineering Equipment Operators follow oral instructions and written work orders largely without direct supervision. They make independent decisions on technical matters, and they may act as crew lead on projects with multiple operators.
On highly technical projects they would operate under the guidance of a higher graded engineer. MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Employees required to operate a motor vehicle must be at least
- OPM Job Qualifications System for Trades and Labor Occupations will be used in determining your qualifications. There is no specific length of training or experience required; however, you must be able to demonstrate through experience shown in the resume materials, that you possess the skill level that has equipped you with the particular job elements to successfully perform the duties of Engineering Equipment Operator without more than normal supervision.
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.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: Heavy physical effort is extended by the operator in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, legs, and feet to operate the equipment and attachments. Considerable strain is caused by the vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating in rough terrain.
The location of the controls causes the incumbent to work in awkward or strained positions for significant amounts of time. Required to lift, carry and position items weighting up to 50 pounds. Work Environment: Work is performed in all types of weather to include excessive heat and cold, in rough terrain on hillsides and small canyons.
You will be exposed to injury from cutting blades and the possibility of the equipment turning over, and is subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from motor exhaust and from insecticide and herbicide. Required safety equipment must be worn at all times when so exposed.
Major Duties
Operate heavy gasoline or diesel-powered equipment, including motor graders, tractors with attachments, dozer tractors, front-end loaders.
Operate backhoes, excavators, and brush cutters to reconstruct and maintain gravel or surfaced highways and timber access roads.
Although the primary responsibility is the operation of equipment, operators may also engage in operating forklifts to load and unload materials in an indoor/outdoor environment.
As completing minor maintenance projects such as cleaning culverts and ditches, installing cattle guards, culverts, signs and/or fences, and basic carpentry.
Light maintenance and minor repairs on gasoline or diesel-powered engineering and construction equipment and/or motor vehicles.
Assist with conducting assessments of existing road conditions to determine road maintenance needs.
Education
Education may not be used to qualify for this position.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made.
Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.
Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following job elements required to do the work of this position: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Related to Mobile Equipment Operation) Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles) Reliability and Dependability Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order)
Additional Information
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed.
To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service This position is not eligible for Telework. All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements.
These positions are temporary and are expected to last for up to 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade. If selected from this announcement you may be rehired for identical positions without further competition based on work needs, funding, or any other condition of employment.
If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)?. The Act allows certain individuals, who have or had time-limited appointments at land management agencies, to compete for any permanent position in the competitive service under "internal" merit promotion procedures. For more information, see the section under Eligibility, which starts with Question #15 (Q15.
Who is eligible for appointment under these provisions?).
How to Apply
THIS IS AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS THROUGH USAJOBS.
Your application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time by 03/09/2026. If you need assistance in applying on-line, please contact [email protected]. If applying on-line poses a hardship for you (i.e. you do not have access to the Internet) you must contact us prior to the closing date of the announcement for an alternative method of applying. PLEASE
NOTE: If you have access to a public library, State Job Service Office, etc., you should use these resources to apply online.
You must follow the steps described below to complete the application process: YOU MUST HAVE OR CREATE A PROFILE IN USAJOBS.
Your profile must contain a current resume for submission. See Required Documents section for what to include in your resume. INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION COULD RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. The USAJOBS Resume Builder was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is an available tool when you login to your USAJOBS account. Review the Appointment Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility section of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement.
You will ONLY be considered for the appointment eligibilities that you selected.
You must provide proof of your eligibility to be considered.
You must submit a resume and also complete the online application and assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. 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.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
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. The eligibility portion of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this announcement.
You may choose more than one eligibility.
You must provide proof of your eligibility and will only be considered for the questions that you answer "yes". Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated in this section.
You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered.
You may choose more than one eligibility in this section. To view the assessment questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12885189 To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (Welcome | Login.gov), 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.
FOLLOW UP. Check your application status before the announcement closes. It is your responsibility to ensure that a complete application (including a resume, on-line questionnaire, and applicable supplemental documentation) is received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 03/09/2026.
NOTE: Technical problems may take at least 1 business day to resolve; therefore, you are highly encouraged to complete the application process prior to the closing date.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. You are welcome to submit an optional cover letter.
Veterans: If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy is preferred), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service (must be honorable) OR written documentation from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference,
in addition to the documents specified above, you must submit documentation that supports your claim as shown on the back of the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. SF-15. If you are claiming Sole Survivorship Veterans' Preference (SSP), please provide the documentation you received granting this preference.
Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles: Submit documentation verifying your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of the agency notice and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location. Please note that documents selected for transfer from your USAJOBS profile are NOT automatically added do your application.
You need to transfer your document(s) in the "Documents" step during the application process. Hard copy paper supplemental documents, submitted without prior Human Resources approval, will be considered as an incomplete application. Required documentation must be submitted by 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.