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EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
HQ USAF and Support Elements

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as the Emergency Response Planning Specialist; Headquarters Department of the Air Force (HQ DAF) Continuity of Operations (COOP) Directorate involving the analyzing, developing, and coordinating recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of work operations.

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/28/2026 to 02/10/2026
Salary
$102,415 to - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
9L-AFPC-12872352-069662-AZC
Control number
855656900

Duties

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  • Performs a wide variety of emergency preparedness duties to maintain seamless daily office operations within the HQ DAF Continuity of Operations Directorate.
  • Acts as an emergency preparedness readiness and execution support Subject Matter Expert (SME) for HQ DAF continuity program.
  • Serves as Unit Security Manager. Ensure directed security training is accomplished to active duty and civilian personnel in accordance with prescribed directives.
  • Serves as Directorate Administrative Coordinator and Resource Advisor. Provides essential support for the smooth functioning of the COOP office. Manage administrative tasks, coordinating communication, and timely response of office workflows.
  • Prepares and delivers oral presentations such as briefings, training sessions, consultations, and strategy sessions with other staff service functions and activities to secure cooperation, resolve controversial matters, and convey information relative to proposed changes in assignments.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • A security clearance may be required
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • The work may require the employee to self-drive a motor vehicle within 100 miles. Must be able to obtain and maintain an appropriate valid driver's license.
  • May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft to accomplish temporary duty.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
  • This is a Mission-Essential position performing a Mission-Critical-Function which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption of all functions.

Qualifications

Conditions of employment Cont:

  • The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. May be required to work overtime. May be required to work on-call. The employee will be expected to be mobilized within and outside the NCR during crisis.
  • The work may involve overseeing and administering security programs at various facilities, including management of Special Access Security programs (SAP) in accordance with established policies and procedures.
  • The duties of this position meet all requirements as a category 4 designation, and shall not be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the parent Federal Agency or office to function effectively. This position must be removed from the Ready Reserve and cannot become a member of the Ready Reserve. (IAW: DoDD 1200.7, "Screening the Ready Reserve,")
  • This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.
  • Work is performed in a controlled access; classified processing office environment were safety and extensive security procedures are required and enforced. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. Employee may occasionally be exposed to uncomfortable conditions in such places as research and production facilities.
  • Required to deploy by POV, government air or government ground transportation for training and exercises. When deployed to continuity facility for exercises or real-world events, the continuity facilities are austere, in close quarters with little privacy, and has multiple stories without elevators.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, Administrative Specialist GS-0301

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience include knowledge of emergency management principles and business continuity operations at the Federal, Departmental and Service level, as related to continuity, COOP subject matter expert for HQ DAF during national, departmental and HQ-level exercises; capable of developing training objectives to ensure mission essential functions can be completed without notice. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques for analyzing and measuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of administrative and technical programs, along with knowledge of the mission, organization, and work processes of programs throughout a military command, complex multi-mission local installation, or equivalent, and the relationships of administrative support activities (e.g., data processing, accounting, budget) to such missions. Knowledge and skill to develop new or modified work methods, organizational structures, records and files, management processes, staffing patterns, procedures for administering program services, guidelines and procedures, and automating work processes for the conduct of administrative support functions or program operations.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
  • Expert knowledge on a wide range of COOP qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies; in designing and conducting comprehensive COOP studies and preparing solutions to resolve substantive problems and issues of effectiveness and efficiency of work operations.
  • Knowledge of DAF program goals and objectives; the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones: methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions related to actual events; and the relationship of the various command entities involved in overall program planning and execution of military operations and evaluations.
  • Knowledge of the mission, roles, functions, organizational structures, and operation of DOD, Joint, Secretariat, Space Force, and Air Force organizations to provide command level staff guidance and/or conduct studies to determine manning and skill levels to staff organizations at subordinate installations.
  • Knowledge of emergency management and response principles, practices, procedures, requirements, and policy; Knowledge of national response plan, organizations, lines of authority, and HQ DAF response roles and responsibilities.
  • Knowledge of DOD security policies and procedures, of computers, computer systems and other automated software; the use of secure communications, video teleconferencing, and information technology applications for writing, developing presentations, readiness tracking statistics, budget development, and strategic project planning tools.
  • Ability to plan, organize, and negotiate effectively with senior analysts and management to accept and implement recommendations for the protection and relocation of people and assets at senior levels within the National Capital Region (NCR); ability to communicate effectively and succinctly through written and oral means and have knowledge of JS and DAF writing and staffing requirements to include but not limited to HOI 33-3, DAFH 33-337 and JP 5-0.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

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 package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

BASIS OF RATING:
Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable.

Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements
Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements.
Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

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