Contact Information

Scot Hale
Administrative Officer
Portland District, US Army Corps of Engineers
Hydroelectric Design Center
michael.s.hale@usace.army.mil
(503) 808-4203

Rachel Samsel
Administrative Officer
Portland District, US Army Corps of Engineers
Engineering and Construction Division
rachel.r.samsel@usace.army.mil
(503) 808-4802

The Benefits of Working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

SALARY
Information regarding specific General Schedule (GS) salary rates may be found at:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/general-schedule/. Some engineering positions are paid on a special rate scale.

LEAVE
Federal employees earn annual and sick leave, the accrual rate for a full time schedule is as follows:

 

 

Years of Federal Service

 

 

1-3 years

4-15 years

15+ years

Annual

Leave *

4 hours
(=13 days/yr)

6 hours
(=20 days/yr)

8 hours
(= 26 days/yr)

Sick

Leave*

4 hours
(=13 days/yr)

4 hours
(=13 days/yr)

4 hours
(=13 days/yr)

 

 

 

 

 

* Earned every 2 weeks

Plus 10 paid Federal Holidays each year.

MASS TRANSIT
We offer a transit debit card used for paying your fares when taking light rail or bus to work in the Portland /Vancouver area.

RETIREMENT
The Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) is the retirement system used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The three factors are:

- Defined Benefit Plan (1% x High-3 Salary x Years of Service)
- Social Security
- Thrift Savings Plan (comparable to 401K)

* Government automatically contributes 1% of your pay with an additional 4% matching possible for a total 5% matching contribution
* Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum, a minimum 5% contribution will earn the full 5% government matching contribution
* Contributions are tax deferred and made through pay roll deduction.  More information can be found at the TSP website:  http://www.tsp.gov

LIFE INSURANCE
Life insurance coverage is available for yourself or for you and your family.  Options available up to 5 times your pay. Insurance elections often carried into retirement.  For more information visit the Life Insurance website at:https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/life-insurance/..

HEALTH INSURANCE
Nationwide Fee-for-Service and local HMO plans available.  The Government pays up to 75%. No disqualification due to pre-exiting condition.  Insurance cost can be paid from pre-tax wages.  For more information visit the Health Benefits website at:  https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/..

OTHER BENEFITS
Flexible Work Schedule: A flexible duty schedule under which employees may modify their time of arrival and departure from the work site.  Flexible work schedules are voluntary work schedules that are approved by supervisors or managers.

Health and Fitness Leave: Paid time to improve and maintain health and fitness-up to 3 hours a week

Paid Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child

Standard 8- Hour Day:  If an employee works past the standard 8-hour day, he or she may be compensated by three different means:

1.  Overtime, that is an increase in standard pay.
2.  Compensatory Time in lieu of Overtime at the employees' request, with supervisory approval.
3.  Credit Hours, which are the duty hours worked voluntarily, with supervisory approval, in excess of the 8-hour daily requirement.

Relocation Incentives:  If you accept employment and live outside the Portland area, you may be eligible to have all or part of the cost of your move paid for by the government.

Recruitment Incentives:  Certain hard-to-fill positions may include a recruitment bonus or student loan repayment.

Training:  Job related undergraduate and graduate courses may be paid for.  We offer continuing formal and informal training through various sources including the Corps Professional Development Support Center.

TO APPLY
You will find vacancy announcements for our journeyman, support, student work/study positions at:

USAJOBS - Federal Government Employment Page:
https://www.usajobs.gov/More information at

Portland District Website:
http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/   

Info on Pathways Program:
http://www.opm.gov/hiringreform/pathways/