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NUCLEAR COMMAND AND CONTROL SPECIALIST (COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY)

Department of Defense
Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Procedures and Assessment Branch, Nuclear Operations Division, Directorate for Operations

Summary

This position is part of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The incumbent engages proactively with stakeholders across federal government to provide for the President of the United States to exercise authority and direction over United States nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon systems, and nuclear weapons operations; for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide military advice and transmit the orders of the President under emergency conditions.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/01/2026 to 05/17/2026
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
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
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
JCS-26-12939651-MP
Control number
867612100

Duties

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As a NUCLEAR COMMAND AND CONTROL SPECIALIST (COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY) at the GS-0301-15 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Exercises decision authority for requests to reproduce Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff codebooks and notifies Nuclear Operations Command and Control cells and applicable communications security accounts when positive control material has been shipped to them and provides them with Delivery Control Number information as appropriate.
  • Reviews proposed modifications to nuclear deliberate and adaptive plans to assess sufficiency of current procedures and when appropriate recommend changes to code books and positive control material as needed to ensure command and control, safety, and security of United States nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon systems, and nuclear weapons operations.
  • Authors, coordinates, maintains, reviews, updates, and submits for reissuance or cancelation, as appropriate, directives, orders, concepts and other materials that fulfill Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff statutory functions.
  • Uses qualitative, quantitative, cost/benefit, and other appropriate techniques and methodolgies to identify, document, and apply lessons learned; leads studies regarding nuclear command and control, safety, and security; Nuclear Procedures Inspections of National Military Command System elements tasked with nuclear command and control responsibilities;

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is NOT telework eligible
  • Will be required to work overtime, perform shift work, including occasional weekends (both scheduled and on-call response for required / emergency operations).
  • Security-Employee must obtain/maintain a Special Sensitive (Top Secret/SCI) clearance
  • Drug Testing Designated Position: Yes; must sign statements acknowledging the position is a Testing Designated Position.
  • This is a mission-critical position; must be exempt from National Guard and Reserve mobilization and deployments.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-15, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service:

  • Develops new requirements, concepts, processes, procedures, plans, practices, programs, products, and services for the conduct and assessment of nuclear command and control, communications security, and emergency action procedures as evidenced by a high-level understanding of politico-military environment with consideration for the immediate and long-range effects on government programs;
  • Managed or executed emergency action messages and/or procedures utilizing applicable communications security codebooks and positive control material;
  • Applies nation's nuclear operational plans to execute emergency action messages, use of communications security material and positive control material;
  • Applies nation's nuclear operational plans to communicate the ramifications of potential adjustments to procedural guidance for communications security, positive control, and authentication for the President, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Combatant Commanders;
  • Applies knowledge of extant and emerging threats to United States nuclear weapons command and control, safety, and security and of the capabilities of the military nuclear communities and other departmental and interagency organizations, organizational relationships, command structures, missions, programs, and capabilities for ensuring continual nuclear command and control;
  • Applies project and program management and organizational principles and practices to lead projects involving interagency and interdepartmental organizations,;
  • Utilizes qualitative and quantitative methods used for planning, assessing, and improving the effectiveness of oversight programs, processes, procedures, organizational training and evaluation programs, communications security accounts / positive control material accounts including issuing/superseding/destroying material

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 may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Education





Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A
Special Hiring Authority for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/)

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.
NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Selective Service Requirement: Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information.

For more information, please visit

https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Other Notes:

This position may be designated Emergency Essential. If so designated, the incumbent must sign an agreement acknowledging the conditions of employment which may include the requirement to maintain certain levels of medical, security, performance, conduct, and overall fitness that make them suitable for assignment to an austere and stressful environment.

Re-employed Annuitant: This position Does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/140025_vol300.PDF?ver=LQ7feWw-8-5DI2tceUpmgA%3d%3d


Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

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.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Competencies:

  • Collection Resources Management
  • Customer Operations and Requirements
  • Research


Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the (RGP) eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the (PPP DoD MRNG) eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) (PPP MSP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the(MSP) (PPP MSP) eligibility. If you are claiming MSP (PPP MSP) and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Mission Statement: The J-3 (Operations), supports the Chairman in carrying out responsibilities as the principal military advisor to the President and Secretary of Defense, developing and providing guidance to the combatant commanders and relaying communications between the President and the Secretary of Defense and the combatant commanders regarding current operations and plans.

Agency contact information

JCS Servicing team
Phone
614-692-2646
Email
DHRS-D-JCS@dla.mil
Address
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Staff
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20318
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.jcs.miI/

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