Deckhand (Dual Rate)

Job Description

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Direct Hire Authority, Section 1109; PL, 116-92, dated 12/23/2023 to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

Duties

THIS IS AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION PERFORMING GENERAL MAINTENANCE: WK-06: You will be expected to perform all the duties pertinent to the certificate required by the USCG for this position.

Perform work involved in the maintenance and repair of the deck equipment and general housekeeping on a dredge.

Handle and fasten hawsers and mooring ropes to piers; handling lines to secure other craft coming alongside the dredge.

Monitor ropes and repair or renew to include splicing the rope to maintain safe operations.

Accomplish light rigging such as determining the weight to be lifted and tying it to the crane hook to be lifted safely aboard a sea going vessel such as a Hopper Dredge.

Wash the deck, chip away paint and rust, putty holes and crevices, apply primer and finish coats. Paint.

Act as a Deckhand on a small work boat under the supervision of the Boat Operator.

This is a 24 hour a day job, that call-outs during the middle of the night for repairs or fog related look-out watches are a possibility.

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.

Additional Information

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a background investigation. Direct deposit of pay is required. This is a Career Program (CP) 24 - Transportation & Distribution Management position. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. 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. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest. Defense National Relocation Program (DNRP) is not authorized. The following incentives may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate: Recruitment, Relocation, and/or Advanced Leave Accrual. You MUST UPLOAD your USCG Credentials or you may be rated ineligible. The Deckhand WK-5788-06 position has noncompetitive promotion potential to a Marine Machinery Repairer WK-5334-08 and Marine Machinery Mechanic WK-5334-10. Noncompetitive promotion potential to target grade. Salary Range for WK-5788-06 is $30.14-$35.17; Salary Range for WK-5334-08 is $34.86-$40.67; Salary Range for WK-5334-10 is $39.56-$46.16 The following incentives may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate: Recruitment, Relocation, Advance in Hire, Student Loan Repayment, and/or Advanced Leave Accrual.

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 10/15/2026 to receive consideration 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/13054210). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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: 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 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. 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. 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. For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume. 2. Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable 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.

What to Expect Next

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking (as applicable) for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.

About the Agency

At the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), we do not just construct infrastructure; we engineer the future of our Nation. From securing vital water resource infrastructure and restoring fragile ecosystems to designing world-class facilities for our armed forces and responding to natural disasters, our work touches lives every day. By joining USACE, you will have the opportunity to contribute to high-impact, meaningful projects, collaborate with a diverse network of dedicated professionals, and advance your career. Here, your skills do not just build structures; they build national resilience, protect local communities, and support a safer, stronger tomorrow. Build Strong With Us - explore our opportunities and engineer your legacy today. About the Position: This position is aboard a hopper dredge.The Portland District's hopper dredges Yaquina and Essayons work to ensure a safe "highway" for ships and other vessels. The hopper dredge is a specialized seagoing vessel designed to dredge and transport dredged material from ocean bars, fast flowing rivers and isolated harbors to open-water disposal areas.

Requirements

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. 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. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision. Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a Deckhand (Dual Rate) without more than normal supervision. You must possess a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), Seafarer Unlimited (AB Unlimited) Endorsement or higher AND a current Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC). You MUST UPLOAD your USCG Credentials or you may be rated ineligible. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating. IAW NPPR 690-1-530 you may intermittently perform higher paying duties in a dual rate position provided you obtain and maintain appropriate US Coast Guard licenses/certifications. Physical Effort: Work requires moderate physical effort. Lifts and carries equipment and supplies normally up to 45 lbs. and occasionally over 45 lbs. Work requires prolonged standing, walking and climbing, all of which can cause exertion of the lower back. The employee must maintain good lower back physical condition. Incumbent must possess color and depth perception and be able to see by low visibility conditions in order to perform duties. Working Conditions: Exposed to extremes of weather conditions, heat, and noise. There is danger of slippery decks and drowning. Must wear appropriate safety gear and protective clothing as required, and comply with sound safety practices. May be exposed to hot pipes, escaping steam and the effects of acids, solvents, and paint.