Program Specialist (Hotline)

Summary

This position is within the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Compliance, Audit and Risk Management (C), Internal Audit (CN), Oversight Organization (CNO). Make a high-impact difference as a Hotline Program Specialist! Drive workplace integrity by managing our employee concerns hotline, leading complex investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse, collaborating with the DOE Inspector General, and empowering staff through ethics training. Elevate organizational accountability-apply today!

Duties

• 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! Champion Integrity and Power the Pacific Northwest: Lead BPA's Hotline & Employee Concerns Program At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our mission is to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy to the Pacific Northwest while championing environmental stewardship and public trust. Central to achieving this vision is an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, workplace fairness, and ethical accountability. As the Program Specialist (Hotline & Employee Concerns) within our Oversight Organization, you will serve as a vital guardian of agency integrity. In this high-visibility, high-impact role, you will lead complex investigations, partner directly with federal oversight leaders, and empower a culture of transparency across the organization. Key Duties & Responsibilities Lead Complex, High-Stakes Investigations Independently plan, organize, and execute thorough, objective investigations into complex employee concerns-including fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and safety reprisal allegations-ensuring complete confidentiality, fairness, and strict adherence to federal standards. Serve as the Primary Federal Oversight Liaison Act as BPA's primary point of contact for Department of Energy Office of Inspector General (OIG) referrals. Triage high-level complaints, coordinate investigation milestones, and draft executive response packages and corrective action reports for agency leadership. Conduct Strategic Triage and Risk Assessments Perform immediate, high-level risk evaluations on incoming reports to determine jurisdictional scope, legal requirements, and appropriate resolution paths (such as formal investigations, management inquiries, or specialized referrals). Formulate Evidence-Based Investigative Strategies Develop tailored investigative plans, interview witnesses, gather and secure critical documentation, and author clear, comprehensive findings that guide executive decision-making and systemic operational improvements. Provide Trusted Guidance and Conflict Resolution Offer expert, confidential advice to employees and managers regarding their workplace rights, standards of conduct, ethics guidelines, and alternative dispute resolution options. Drive Agency-Wide Education & Outreach Design, deliver, and evaluate engaging training sessions and educational materials across the agency to promote hotline awareness, employee rights, and a culture free from retaliation. Analyze Case Data & Elevate Program Effectiveness Track, analyze, and report on complaint trends to uncover root causes, perform periodic program self-assessments, and provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership to continuously improve operations. Collaborate Across Key Executive & Legal Functions Build strong collaborative partnerships with Human Resources, Legal Counsel, Security, and internal management to verify that systemic corrective actions are implemented effectively across all agency operations.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level [enter grade] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) independently planning, organizing, and conducting complex investigations into employee concerns, allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct, including interviewing witnesses, gathering documentary evidence, and maintaining confidential case files; and 2) serving as a liaison or point of contact for Office of Inspector General (OIG) referrals, analyzing complaint data to draft technical reports, and developing training to promote program awareness and reporting options. "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.

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.

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

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.