Public Utilities Specialist (Revenue)

This position is located in the Customer Billing (MSBP/MSBV) organization of Customer Support Services (MS), Business Management & Development (M), Chief Operating Officer (K), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The purpose of this position is to serve as a Public Utilities Specialist and analyst responsible for providing timely and accurate customer billing services for BPA's customer contracts.

About the Position - Portland This position is located in Portland, OR which boasts huge spans of amazing trees, foliage, landscape, and everywhere you look you can appreciate beautiful greenery! It is known as the most bike-friendly city in America, has a train system that greets you at the airport spanning across the city, and is home to the Portland International Rose Garden, the oldest in the country! Portland is the one place where you will find lively festivals, energetic music, mouthwatering food, and for you basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers are a 7 minute walk from the HQs building!

There is always something new to experience in this eco-friendly town! As a Public Utilities Specialist (Revenue), you will: Assist the Senior Revenue Analysts in quality control assessments by reviewing selected customer bills for accuracy, completeness, and contract applications. Provide accurate, understandable, and timely billing services to customers. Analyze customer demand and energy data to ensure that values are in accordance with the customer's contract.

Be responsible for the analysis and billing for various products and services in a timely and accurate manner. Review and interpret existing and draft customer contracts and contract amendments to assess the impact on the billing process. Participate in the development, implementation, review and revision of Customer Billing policies, procedures, standards, and internal controls. Participate on project teams responsible for billing system enhancements and/or upgrades.

Additional Conditions of Employment: All Customer Support Services employees will comply with the Standards of Conduct independent functioning regulations by engaging only in shared support functions and will be prohibited from engaging in either transmission or power merchant functions. The shared Customer Billing employees will have access to non-public transmission and customer information stored in contract management systems and tools but will automatically restrict power merchant employee access to non-public transmission and customer information through an automated process that will include firewalls and password protection.

Customer Billing employees will not serve as a conduit for non-public transmission and customer information. Since this function will provide for and support the needs of both Power and Transmission, the incumbent will need to fully understand internal risk management controls (OMB A-123) and Standards of Conduct (SOC) guidelines. The incumbent will participate in training of OMB A-123 and SOC guidelines, and adhere to the Agency's compliance with the "No-Conduit" rule.

Any issues, concerns, and reports of non-compliance will be brought immediately to management's attention.

Specialized Experience Requirements

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 at the GS-09 level is defined as experience in: 1) Providing customer service, analyzing issues, and assisting in evaluating information to identify alternative courses of action; 2) Resolving business operations problems in any of the following areas: settlement transactions, authorizing payments, customer billing, comparing documented requirements (e.g., contracts, agreements, policies, standards) to ensure contract compliance, data analysis, or rate schedules.

GS-09: 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.

GS-11: 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-09) in the Federal service. Specialized experience at the GS-11 level is defined as experience in: 1) Providing customer service, analyzing issues, and evaluating information to identify alternative courses of action; 2) Resolving problems related to utility operations in any of the following areas: settlement transactions, customer billing, contract management and implementation, scheduling, metering data services, or transmission/power rate schedules.

GS-11: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.M., 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 two years 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.

GS-12: 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-11) in the Federal service. Specialized experience at the GS-12 level is defined as experience in: 1) Providing customer service to external/internal stakeholders; 2) Analyzing business practices, rate structures, customer contracts and operating characteristics of a utility industry to plan and carry out customer billing operations; AND 3) Providing accurate, understandable, and timely billing services in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level. "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.