Ocean Job Board
0
Organizations
0
Jobs
Small Craft Operator.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Los Angeles, CA, USA · Lodi, CA, USA · California, USA · United States
Posted on Jun 11, 2025
Duties
This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year. It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work. The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year.
As a Small Craft Operator your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conditions of Employment
Only experience and education obtained by 07/01/2025 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation.
Although no specific amount of experience, education or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level, and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements. Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements.
The screen out element for this position is: Ability to perform the duties of a Small Craft Operator without more than normal supervision. This experience may include: the ability to perform the following tasks without more than normal supervision: regularly operate, navigate, dock/cast-off, and fuel inboard, outboard, and inboard/outboard (I/0), powered vessels, including but not limited to: prop boats, jet boats, from 3 to 13 meters in length (occasionally larger) simultaneously operating hydraulic winch controls to deploy, fish, and retrieve sampling gear, including maintenance to hydraulic equipment; and trailering and launching vessels.
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.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.
Additional information
PCS - Not Authorized
Telework: The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.
Temporary Benefits: Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information, visit Leave Administration. Effective January 2015, employees on temporary appointments may be eligible for health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and, if eligible, will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. To be eligible for consideration, temporary employees working full-time or part-time must be on appointments expected to last at least 90 days, or be on an intermittent work schedule and expected to work 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. 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 for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 80 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.
For More Information Visit
Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit
This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year. It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work. The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year.
As a Small Craft Operator your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Regularly operates navigates, dock/cast-off, and fuel inboard, outboard, and inboard/outboard, powered vessels, including but not limited to: prop boats, jet boats, from 3 to 13 meters in length (occasionally larger) to facilitate biological sampling of the San Francisco Estuary.
- Maintains, services, tracks, and performs minor repairs on all vessels and attached or associated equipment, including sampling gear, vessels, marine diesel and gasoline engines, drive systems and boat trailers.
- Assures adherence to safety protocols by all personnel on board and assists in the training of vessel operators and other personnel.
- Load and unload cargo from small craft, launches, etc.
- Accomplish work following standard established procedures
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
- Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
- Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
- Uniform Required: This position requires the incumbent to wear an Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Uniform as part of their official duties.
- Motorboat Operator's License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a motorboat as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a DOI Motorboat Operator’s license throughout their employment in this position.
- Drug Test: Mandatory Drug Testing as part of the Motorboat Operation Requirement
- Forklift Certification: Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Forklift Operator Certification.
- Must be able to safely swim in cold, fast moving water.
- See Additional Information section for link to additional conditions of employment applicable to each position advertised
Only experience and education obtained by 07/01/2025 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation.
Although no specific amount of experience, education or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level, and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements. Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements.
The screen out element for this position is: Ability to perform the duties of a Small Craft Operator without more than normal supervision. This experience may include: the ability to perform the following tasks without more than normal supervision: regularly operate, navigate, dock/cast-off, and fuel inboard, outboard, and inboard/outboard (I/0), powered vessels, including but not limited to: prop boats, jet boats, from 3 to 13 meters in length (occasionally larger) simultaneously operating hydraulic winch controls to deploy, fish, and retrieve sampling gear, including maintenance to hydraulic equipment; and trailering and launching vessels.
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.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.
Additional information
PCS - Not Authorized
Telework: The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.
Temporary Benefits: Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information, visit Leave Administration. Effective January 2015, employees on temporary appointments may be eligible for health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and, if eligible, will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. To be eligible for consideration, temporary employees working full-time or part-time must be on appointments expected to last at least 90 days, or be on an intermittent work schedule and expected to work 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. 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 for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 80 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.
For More Information Visit
Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit
- 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.