Summary This position is located with U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, in the Eastern Power Customer Services (PSE) team within NW Requirements Marketing (PS). Ready to drive operational excellence? As a Management Associate, you will serve as a key advisor to leadership resolving business challenges, orchestrating daily operations and delivering high-level administrative support. Bring your analytical talent and collaborative mindset to elevate our mission!
Duties Power the Pacific Northwest: Drive Operational Excellence at Bonneville Power Administration
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is at the heart of the Pacific Northwest's clean energy landscape. Delivering reliable, carbon-free hydroelectric power across thousands of miles of transmission lines, BPA fuels the region's economy, powers millions of homes and businesses, and champions environmental stewardship.
Behind every megawatt delivered is a network of forward-thinking teams operating with precision. As a Management Associate, you will serve as a dynamic operational catalyst and trusted advisor at the center of this vital mission. Working closely with senior leadership, you won't just keep operations running-you will actively shape how our teams plan, problem-solve, and collaborate. If you are an analytical thinker, a skilled communicator, and an ambitious professional ready to make a tangible public impact, this is your opportunity to build a high-trajectory career in public service.
Key Responsibilities & Core Duties
Here are the eight primary ways you will drive impact in this role:
• Strategic Advisory & Executive Decision Support Serve as a trusted advisor to organizational managers, conducting in-depth program evaluations and operational analyses. You will translate complex operational data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations that directly influence executive decision-making.
• Long-Range Planning & Resource Allocation Actively participate in the formulation of strategic organizational roadmaps and annual budget plans. You will partner with leadership to align financial resources with long-term priorities, ensuring organizational initiatives are fully funded and executed effectively.
• High-Impact Stakeholder & Customer Relations Act as a key liaison representing the organization in communications with diverse external and internal partners. You will build and maintain collaborative relationships with federal and regional government entities, utility partners, and internal business lines.
• Business Process Optimization & Problem-Solving Apply rigorous analytical methods to identify procedural bottlenecks, evaluate management practices, and modernize workflow systems. You will design, present, and implement creative solutions that enhance productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction across the division.
• Performance Frameworks & Goal Tracking Help develop and implement clear performance criteria and accountability benchmarks to measure organizational success. You will track program milestones, evaluate performance outcomes against target metrics, and recommend adjustments to ensure strategic objectives are achieved.
• Cross-Functional Project & Event Leadership Lead the planning and execution of executive-level conferences, working groups, and inter-organizational task forces. From shaping agenda content and securing key subject-matter experts to producing comprehensive briefing materials, you will ensure high-visibility initiatives run flawlessly.
• Team Mentorship & Operational Leadership Provide direct leadership, coaching, and performance management for administrative support staff. You will cultivate an inclusive, customer-centric team culture, establish workload priorities, and empower team members through continuous professional development.
Qualifications
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
GS-07: 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-05) in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) applying basic analytical and evaluative techniques to gather data, analyze procedural or operational issues, and prepare routine reports, correspondence, and recommendations; and 2) coordinating day-to-day administrative operations, including managing records systems, arranging meeting and conference logistics, and liaising with organizational contacts to respond to customer inquiries and facilitate program activities.
You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:
- One year of graduate-level education, or superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) gained in a bachelor degree curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled (based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership). See the following link for more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=app -OR-
- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with completed graduate education.
GS-09: 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-07) in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as: (1) Serving as a personal assistant to multiple managers or executives; (2) performing administrative support (e.g., Prepare reports, spreadsheets, correspondence, etc.) for a department, company or organization; (3) planning, scheduling, and coordinating meetings and other organizational activities; AND (4) coordinating official travel for staff.
You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:
- Master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.B. or J.D. if related; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR-
- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first year of full-time study may be credited). One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours the graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If the graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study is not available, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is used. When crediting education that requires specific course work the number of hours of related courses required, as a proportion of the total education, is prorated.
"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. Education If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation.
Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system.
Failure to provide college transcripts may result in a rating of 'Ineligible'.
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.
How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.
Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.
Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, you will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- Flexibility
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
Non-competitive Procedures: If you are applying under a non-competitive or special hiring authority, you will still be required to answer the assessment questions. However, you will not be evaluated against the rating and ranking criteria.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you are minimally qualified for this job. Veterans' Preference will be applied when required by the hiring authority (e.g., VRA, Schedule A).
All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion and VEOA applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/04/2026) of this announcement.
To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13099659.
USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. 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. Other information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy
Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans
Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register
Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.
BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment.
We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.