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Summary

The FBI's IT Infrastructure Division is seeking a highly qualified Watch Commander to lead real-time operational oversight of critical IT systems that support our agency's mission. In this high impact role, you will guide watch floor operations, coordinate rapid incident response, and ensure the uninterrupted performance of enterprise networks and services. If you are ready to elevate your career while making a measurable difference, we want to hear from you.

Summary

Overview

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Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

01/22/2026 to 02/05/2026

Salary: $110,847 to - $144,102 per year

Pay scale & grade: GS 13

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Huntsville, AL

Remote job: No

Telework eligible: No

Travel Required: Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Appointment type: Permanent

Work schedule: Full-time

Service: Excepted

Promotion potential

Job family (Series)

2210 Information Technology Management

Supervisory status: No

Security clearance: Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test: Yes

Financial disclosure: No

Bargaining unit status: No

Announcement number: DESTIMP-12870843-26-VL

Control number: 855124900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens.

Duties

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Directs real-time monitoring, coordination, and resolution of IT incidents to ensure operational continuity, data integrity, and compliance with information assurance and privacy standards in accordance with federal and agency directives.
Provides oversight of the IT Service Desk operations, addresses customer and technical issues requiring escalation, and identifies and implements improvements in the accuracy and timeliness of services.
Leads and manages the planning, development, and execution of IT projects that support the Strategic Information Routing Center's mission critical systems.
Coordinates the receipt, routing, and resolution of time-sensitive law enforcement information through secure systems.
Gathers, organizes and analyzes data and information on IT problems, advising management and operational personnel on the troubleshooting, resolution, and root cause of issues that hinder the operation of the organization's IT infrastructure and systems.
Serves as a liaison between technical teams, law enforcement partners, and leadership to align IT capabilities with operational requirements.
Mentors junior IT staff assigned to the watch floor, ensuring adherence to operational procedures and incident reporting protocols.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must be able to obtain a Top Secret-SCI clearance.
Able to work weekend, holiday, and on-call shifts.

Qualifications

GS-13: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

Experience managing and executing IT projects involving the design, implementation, and maintenance of secure, mission critical systems.
Experience managing the operations of an IT command, watch, or network operations center by leading incident response activities, monitoring mission critical systems, ensuring compliance with policies, and maintaining situational awareness of IT infrastructure health and performance.
Experience providing technical guidance during operational events and emergencies involving complex IT systems, networks, or communications infrastructure.
Experience using a ticketing system to track incidents and tasks, resolving routine and complex IT issues and escalating for support as needed.

Education

There are no educational requirements at this level.

Additional information

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph. You must be suitable for Federal employment; as determined by a background investigation.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated using the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify that you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared against your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are found minimally qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

The competencies will be used in a Structured Resume Review to objectively evaluate applicant resumes. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies.

Competencies:

Communication
Customer Service
Information Management
Problem Solving/Judgement
Technology Awareness

Required Documents

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Utilizing the Resume Builder, outline your relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Uploaded resumes will not be reviewed or used for qualification purposes.
A complete assessment questionnaire
Other supporting documents (if applicable):
- College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement.
- Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50; not applicable to current FBI employees.
- Most recent Performance Appraisal; not applicable to current FBI employees.
  Veterans: DD 214; Disabled Veterans: DD 214, SF-15, and VA letter dated 1991 or later.
- Memorandum for Record (MFR): Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on an SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation:
  - Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties.
  - The month/year work began.
    Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
  - Specific duties performed.

How to Apply

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To apply for the Watch Commander position, please click here.

The official title of this position is, IT Specialist.

Agency contact information

S. Messner

Email: smessner@fbi.gov

Address: Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20535
US

Next steps

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.