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Telecommunications Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Integrated Operations Division (IOD)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Who May Be Considered:

  • U.S. Citizens
  • View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.
  • This is a geographically restricted position. Due to frequent travel requirements, selectee must reside within 50 miles of Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX or Dallas, TX. The selectee's duty station will be their home.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/19/2023 to 05/28/2023
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$116,393 to - $151,308 per year

Salary range reflects General Schedule Rest of U.S. pay. Locality pay will be determined upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IOD-DE-11953200-23-TF
Control number
726897200

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Duties

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The primary purpose of the position is to serve as the Telecommunications Specialist.

Typical work assignments include:

  • Performs a broad spectrum of functions relating to the interoperability of public safety emergency communications systems, which includes: Land Mobile Radio (LMR), wireless broadband, 9-1-1/Next Generation-9-1-1, alert and warning systems, social media and others.
  • Serves as the primary point of contact for CISA to external emergency communications stakeholders within an assigned area of responsibility.
  • Directs technical assistance supporting the development, promulgation, implementation, and coordination of national voluntary consensus standards for interoperable communication equipment as well as interoperable communications and cybersecurity requirements for voice and data communications systems and equipment.
  • Advises on telecommunications and cybersecurity policy issuances that direct the course of emergency communications programs across organizational lines for organizations involved in providing telecommunications equipment and services across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
  • Works with the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) to support efforts to develop and sustain a Statewide Interoperability Governance Body (SIGB) for each State and Territory.
  • Incumbent may have regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities and is subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description.

This position is located in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Integrated Operations Division (IOD).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
  • Selective Service - males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service see http://www.sss.gov/
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • You must submit to a drug test and receive a negative test result prior to appointment to this position.
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • This position has been designated excluded from bargaining unit representation under the national security provision of 5 U.S.C. § 7112(B)(6).
  • DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
  • Other incentives may be authorized.
  • This position has been designated excluded from bargaining unit representation under the national security provision of 5 USC Section 7112(B)(6).
  • All employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
  • This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).
  • This is a geographically restricted position. Due to frequent travel requirements, selectee must reside within 50 miles of Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX or Dallas, TX. The selectee's duty station will be their home.

Qualifications

You may qualify for the GS-14 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level performing the following duties:

  1. Supporting the development and sustainment of a Statewide Interoperability Governance Body (State Interoperable Governance Body (SIGB) and/or State Interoperable Executive Committee (SIEC) to coordinate statewide interoperable communication efforts.
  2. Supporting the development and implementation of Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP) to improve communications across the entire communications ecosystem.
  3. Assisting governance bodies to support public safety communications interoperability, the Communications Unit (COMU) program and the Communications Emergency Support Function.
  4. Developing Strategic plans that address gaps in communications capabilities as necessary to determine the status and progress of Federal, State, Local, Tribal and Territorial governments to achieve interoperability.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Qualifications Must Be Met
The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the specialized experience requirement at the GS-14 grade level.

Additional information

The pay range advertised reflects the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) General Schedule (GS) Rest of U.S. rate. OPM GS pay rates vary by location, A complete list of pay scales are found here General Schedule (opm.gov).

Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement as needed.

Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level.

This is a non-supervisory position.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be evaluated on their resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Project Management
  • Technical Competence
  • Telecommunications


Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
  1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
  2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
  3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on https://www.fedshirevets.gov

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP): If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not I/CTAP eligible. View information about I/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under I/CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

To preview the application for this position, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11953200

Interview Requirement: Interviews may be required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration. The interview process may consist of in-person or phone panel interview.

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