SMALL CRAFT OPERATOR
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Before you apply
LocationPort Arthur, Texas, United States
Work modeon-site
Typefull-time
SeniorityEntry
DepartmentSouthwestern Division (SWD)
Company size10,000+ people
PostedOct 5, 2026 · 1mo ago
Verified live1d ago
At a glanceSummarised by Seekless from the posting.
Ability to do the work of Small Craft Operator without more than normal supervision which includes performing common operation of a boat, determining and following courses on the water, boat maintenance and make minor engine repairs and perform inspections
Ability to perform the most difficult and complex operation, navigation using Hydrographic Software and maintenance of boats at least 26 feet in length, engine repair, towing boats over land, launching and retrieving of boats from trailers, operate electrical equipment such as generators, VHF radios, operate surveying equipment associated with field data acquisition and data downloading for topographic, hydrographic and construction surveys
US Citizenship
Summary
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for certain personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.
About the Position: Small Craft Operator XF-5786-10 with USACE Galveston District, Engineering and Construction Division, Port Arthur Resident Office located in Port Arthur, TX.
A recruitment/relocation incentive may be offered. See Additional information section for more information.
Qualifications
Who May Apply: US Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of Small Craft Operator without more than normal supervision which includes performing common operation of a boat, determining and following courses on the water, boat maintenance and make minor engine repairs and perform inspections. Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.
Must have the ability to perform the most difficult and complex operation, navigation using Hydrographic Software and maintenance of boats at least 26 feet in length, engine repair, towing boats over land, launching and retrieving of boats from trailers, operate electrical equipment such as generators, VHF radios, operate surveying equipment associated with field data acquisition and data downloading for topographic, hydrographic and construction surveys.
PHYSICAL EFFORT: Frequently lifts, carry and positions equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. Heavier items are handled with the assistance of another employee. Moderate effort is required during general maintenance work.Coordination of hands and eyes are necessary when operating controls to maneuver the boat and to hoist,lower and tend equipment. The operator must stand for prolonged periods and climb narrow, steep stairways and ladders.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Works on deck, exposed to sun, wind, spray, rain, and ice during year-round operation when mooring, unmooring, anchoring or weighing anchor, or assisting with experimental and sampling operations. Possible injuries include bruises or broken bones from moving equipment or falls on slippery and moving decks. Operator is exposed to the possibility of falling overboard; thus, a life jacket is worn at all times while on deck.
Education
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone–no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
How you will be evaluated
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.
Required documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.
As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. **If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
1.
Your resume:**
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Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
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For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer’s name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
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Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what’s in your resume.
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If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
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For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
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Cover Letter, optional
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Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
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This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
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This position requires a job-related license or certification. You MUST submit a copy of your license or certification with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person’s personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
How to apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/02/2026 to receive consideration
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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 (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13081749).
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Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the ‘Required Documents’ section.
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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.
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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.
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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. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete.
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It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
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Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), 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/application/status.
Other information
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Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
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You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
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One year trial/probationary period may be required.
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Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
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Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
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If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
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This is a 24 Career Field position.
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Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
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Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
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When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction.htm for more information.
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Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
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A RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE OFFERED, DEPENDING ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MANAGEMENT DISCRETION. AN INCENTIVE MUST BE REQUESTED BY SELECTED APPLICANT AT TIME OF THE TENTATIVE JOB OFFER AND APPROVED PRIOR TO HIRE. AN INCENTIVE REQUIRES A SIGNED SERVICE AGREEMENT.
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