Skip to main content
U.S. flag
 

Lead Telecommunications Specialist

Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Office of Spectrum Management (OSM)

Summary

This vacancy is for a Lead Telecommunications Specialist in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Office of Spectrum Management (OSM), Spectrum Services Division (SSD) within the Department of Commerce.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/14/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 14, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
NTIA-OSM-IMP-26-12976294
Control number
875738600

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current Department of Commerce (DOC) employees who are serving in the competitive service as permanent career or career-conditional employees, as well as current DOC employees who are eligible for reinstatement based on their career or career-conditional status in the competitive service, Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) eligible, 30 percent or More Disabled Veterans, Military Spouses, People with Disabilities and VRA eligible candidates.

Duties

Help

As a Lead Telecommunications Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Provides federal spectrum management support and liaison to national security emergency preparedness and public safety programs. Participating in spectrum management matters with other Federal agencies, Congressional components, or private organizations. Participates in the development of long-range plans for the management and use of the electromagnetic spectrum by the Executive Branch and for matters concerning the general national interest.
  • Assists in the development of policy, rules, and regulations associated with implementation of advanced technology solutions, communications interoperability, national, and international standards, and future spectrum needs of Federal, State, and local, tribal, and territorial governments.
  • Evaluates current programs, develops options to resolve problems and proposals to meet future needs. Advise and assist other Departmental offices on telecommunications and spectrum management issues pertaining to the development, implementation, and functioning of formal agreements or cooperative arrangements with other countries. Advise and assist other Departmental offices and agencies on technical and policy issues related to the security of national telecommunications.
  • Ensures emergency spectrum management planning and practice are in accordance with current NS/EP telecommunications policy. Develop and analyze standards for the telecommunications operations of the Executive Branch.
  • Performs a variety of duties related to telecommunications management such as aspects necessary to carry out the Department's spectrum management responsibilities and leading a multi-disciplinary team of specialists and engineers.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Lead Telecommunications Specialist GS-0391-14, FPL 14 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location or local commuting area with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • This position requires a SECRET CLEARANCE: Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
  • A probationary or trial period may be required.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will Not be paid
  • Drug Test Required: Yes - this position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter.
  • Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the GS-14 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 (or equivalent pay band) level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

  • Developing and analyzing standards for telecommunications operations;
  • Participating in the development of policy recommendations; and
  • Leading a multi-disciplinary team or project evaluating spectrum management operations.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

  1. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  2. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
  3. Military Spouse Non-Competitive Hiring Authority
  4. 30% or more disabled veterans
  5. Persons with disabilities

ICTAP and CTAP Eligible: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

Military Spouse The spouse of a member of the armed forces seeking eligibility under the non-competitive hiring authority of certain military spouse MUST submit various required documentation by the closing date of the announcement in accordance with one of the three below eligibilities:

  • Spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty,
  • Spouse of service member who incurred a 100% disability, or
  • Un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while performing active duty.

Please review the "Required Documents" Section for specific documents pertaining to each of the above eligibilities that MUST be included with your application, if you are applying as a Military Spouse.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., two-page resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, the result of the Structured Resume Review and Structured Interview required for this position.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Structured Interview: A structured interview is an assessment method designed to measure job-related competencies of candidates by systematically inquiring about their behavior in past experiences and/or their proposed behavior in hypothetical situations.

All:

Performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive due weight, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).

If you are invited for an interview, you may be asked to bring a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

The assessments will evaluate you on the following general/technical competencies required to perform the job; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Telecomunications
  • Technical Credibility
  • Problem Solving

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration.
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
To preview the questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12976294

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), located within the Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that is principally responsible by law for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues.

NTIA's programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth. These goals are critical to America's competitiveness in the 21st century global economy and to addressing many of the nation's most pressing needs, such as improving education, health care, and public safety.

Agency contact information

Shawn Blain
Email
sblain1@doc.gov
Address
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at National Telecommunications and Information Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.commerce.gov/

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.