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Telecommunications Specialist (Fire) - Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Fire - Alaska

Summary

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: DHA

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.

This position is located in Fairbanks, AK. Information about the surrounding area may be found by clicking on the location name listed.

We expect to fill 1 vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/27/2026 to 02/09/2026
Salary
$69,789 to - $109,777 per year

See marketing message section for additional details.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
Fairbanks, AK
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Travel Required
25% or less - Travel is required to attend training, conferences, workshops, and/or field visits.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent seasonal appointment. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months; but less than 12 months in a calendar year. When work/funds are unavailable, you will be placed in non-pay status.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11 - This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-11. Please see "Additional Information" for more details.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
FADHA-26-12870682-BM
Control number
855664200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous federal service is required. This position is being advertised under an OPM government-wide Direct Hire authority. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

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Duties

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  • Analyzes electronic systems for the State and Field Offices to determine the most effective and economical equipment and services to meet established standards.
  • Provides support for hooking up remote radio control terminals, dispatch consoles, (PC’s) local area networks (LAN’s), and peripheral-sharing devices.
  • Troubleshoots hardware and software problems for users.
  • Resolves complex telecommunications and data collections problems.
  • Manages the programming and installation of radio communications software.
  • Monitors and makes configuration changes to statewide voice and data communications systems.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the HOW TO APPLY and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Background Investigation Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background investigation. Failure to possess or obtain a favorable determination will result in the cancellation of the offer or will be grounds for termination.
  • Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • May require completion of a one year probationary period. See Additional Information section for more details.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience Requirements:
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement(s); please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled.

To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: Experience in programming, repairing and installing Digital hand held radios, mobile radios, VHF repeaters and/or dispatch consoles; experience in grounding telecommunications systems; experience with repairing, installing, and testing network; and experience with standardized equipment, services, and processes that will be used to obtain services from contractors.

To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: Experience in evaluating, analyzing, developing, managing, or improving communications systems, procedures, and requirements that demonstrated experience in programming, repairing and installing Digital hand held radios, mobile radios, VHF repeaters; dispatch consoles; experience in grounding telecommunications systems; experience with repairing, installing, testing LANs, WANs, and routing networks; and experience with standardized equipment, services, and processes that will be used to obtain services from contractors.

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.

Substitution of Education for Experience:

For GS-09: Must have a Master`s or equivalent graduate degree or two years of graduate education leading to such a degree with a major field of study in the following -- electrical or electronic engineering, mathematics, physics, public utilities, statistics, computer science, telecommunications, management, information systems management, business administration, industrial management or other fields related to this position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.

For GS-11: Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major field of study in the following -- electrical or electronic engineering, mathematics, physics, public utilities, statistics, computer science, telecommunications management, information systems management, business administration, industrial management, or other fields related to this position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.

**You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.**

Condition of Employment:
This position requires all hires to obtain their certification to climb towers as outlined in BLM Manual 1292 and BLM Handbook 1291-1.

Physical Demands: The work is mostly sedentary, although occasional climbing of radio towers may be required. Incumbent must be able to pass a physical exam and be certified to climb towers.

Work Environment: The work is performed throughout the state, sometimes in inclement weather and at high altitudes. Includes working in voice and data equipment rooms, computer rooms, and at field/remote communications sites. The incumbent will comply in utilizing all appropriate safety equipment, policies, and procedures.

Education

See Qualifications Section

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify.

Probationary period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Under completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-11. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they meet minimum qualifications for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration.

Certain incentives, such as, Recruitment, Relocation, or Student Loan Repayment, may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis, and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentives (OPM.gov), or Relocation Incentives (OPM.gov), or Student Loan Repayment (OPM.gov)

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

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.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the minimum qualification requirements of this position. Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine if you are minimally qualified for the position. Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All minimally qualified candidates will be referred for consideration. Please note that the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis.

The competencies or job elements below provide an overview of what this position entails once encumbered:

  • Electronics - Knowledge of electronic theory, circuits, components, and material properties (excluding computers).
  • Network Management - Knowledge of the operation, management, and maintenance of network and telecommunication systems and linked systems and peripherals.
  • Operating Systems - Knowledge of computer network, desktop, and mainframe operating systems and their applications.
  • Telecommunications - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of transmissions, broadcasting, switching, control, construction, or operation of telecommunications systems.

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