Clarification from the agency

This Open Continuous Announcement for Telecommunication Equipment Operators allows acceptance of applications throughout the announcement open dates with eligible applicants being referred for consideration at established cut-off periods.

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:

• Receives and monitors emergency and non-emergency requests by telephone or automatic alarms throughout the Pentagon Facilities.
• Coordinates with military and civilian agencies in response to mutual aid requests, in accordance with established protocols.
• Operates a variety of communications equipment including, but not limited to, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Enhanced-911 (E-911), Land Mobile Radio (LMR), Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDD), and computers with general and specialized software common to the profession of public safety telecommunications.
• Receives, processes, and disseminates information from an unlimited number of contacts for many purposes.
• Provides appropriate post-dispatch and pre-arrival instructions and maintains knowledge of all response resources available, sometimes in a stressful and highly dynamic environment.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• Recruitment incentive may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements
• This position is subject to recall 24/7 and the employee is required to work shifts; days off vary
• Duty hours are not permanent and shift work is required in order to provide 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days per year coverage
• The potential to work up to 16 hours at a time does exists due to unscheduled absences and/or extreme circumstances such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other all hazards emergency or disaster situations
• Due to the nature of the position, the employee may be subject to verbal abuse during telephone conversations with members of the general public
• Employee must obtain and maintain CPR/AED certification within 40 days of entry on duty
• Employee must obtain DoD Hazmat Awareness certification within 40 days of entry on duty
• Employee must obtain and maintain Pro Board DoD Telecommunicator I and II certification within 270 days of entry on duty
• Employee must obtain and maintain International Academies of Emergency Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatch and EMD-Quality Improvement Specialist certification within 270 days of entry on duty
• The employee is required to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
• This position is Mission Critical. The employee is expected to report for, or remain at, work in dismissal or closure situations due to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, or other emergency situations

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-7 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience in:

1. Operating a variety of communication equipment;
2. Providing post-dispatch and pre-arrival instructions for all response resources, usually in stressful and highly dynamic environments; and,
3. Reporting discrepancies experienced while using communications equipment.

You may qualify at the GS-8 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience in:

1. Evaluating emergency calls to determine problem/nature of call to dispatch appropriate emergency personnel or equipment; and,
2. Assisting with a service request or direct caller to the appropriate department based on request for service; and
3. Providing callers emergency medical instructions of first aid techniques, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

You may qualify at the GS-9 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-8 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience in:

1. Evaluating emergency calls to determine problem/nature of call to dispatch appropriate emergency personnel or equipment,
2. Using standard procedures (including established questioning) to manage emergency calls; and,
3. Perform system functions checks to ensure equipment is operational.

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.

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act Chapter 21 of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 2108a, requires Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, assuming the service member is otherwise eligible. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. The service member's military service dates are necessary in order to determine whether he or she meets the definition of "veteran" under 5 U.S.C. 2108(1). The "certification" must reflect the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of submission. The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin (if applicable), your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Further, under paragraph (h) of the rule, agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD-214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible." Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:

• Position title;
• Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
• Agency; and,
• Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. 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. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your responses to the assessment questionnaire and the competencies listed below. The assessment questionnaire link can be found under the 'How To Apply' section.

• Management Support
• Oral Communication
• Telecommunication Security Management
• Telecommunication System and Equipment Operations

For Category Rating: Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. 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. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of the three quality categories: Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Best Qualified. Qualified Category = Does not exceed the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. Highly Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the Critical Competencies defined below. Best Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and excels in the Critical Competencies defined below. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

Please note that final application disposition notices will be completed once the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement.