About the Position: This is an open continuous announcement. Initial pull will be 22 December 2025. Recruitment will continue through the announcement closing date until the position is filled.
As a LINK UNIT MANAGER (TITLE 32), GS-0301-12, you will directly supports user requirements for planning, executing, evaluating, and reporting testing and training objectives, mission debrief capabilities, and associated contract Quality Control.
Major Duties - This is NOT an all-inclusive list:
Serve as the Link Unit Manager (LUM) and technical expert/advisor for planning, coordinating, and scheduling Tactical Data Link (TDL) operations, maintenance, and equipment for the Mobility Air Force (MAF) Wing.
Provide oversight of TDL activities pertaining to the assigned unit and Air Mobility Command (AMC) in accordance with the duties outlined in AFMAN 13-116.
Develop tailored procedures, conduct technical training and support, and improve processes of TDL systems for users and maintainers.
Recommend changes to operations and maintenance processes to improve mission readiness and system capabilities.
Coordinate the preparations, maintenance, and equipment configurations to execute TDL Network operations in the MPC/Local Airspace which may include working with Major Command (MAJCOM) and appropriate contractors.
Facilitate support and resolution for complex Data Link system to include troubleshooting feeds, tasked sensors, and reporting systems in aircraft and/or mobile ground stations with respect to mission planning and long-term homeland air defense implications
Ensure transient, joint, and coalition airframes are equipped with the appropriate client software confirming TDL capability, intelligence, operations, and communications data is received and distributed to subordinate USAF Command and Control elements.
Manage execution of the Data Link architecture and coordinates with range and test facilities.
Coordinate with Headquarters United States Air Force (HQ USAF) and Theater/Range Joint Interface Control Officer (JICO) on issues related to TDL Network interoperability.
Analyze and resolve problems in order to maintain long-term Data Link architecture due to technology advancements, increased numbers of TDL Network injects, and increased complexity of systems while identifying current and future network information exchange requirements.
This is an excepted service position that requires membership in the Illinois National Guard and in the military grade listed in the announcement. This is required prior to the effective date of placement. If you are not sure you are eligible for military membership, please contact a National Guard recruiter prior to applying for this position.
Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform.
Acceptance of an excepted service position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment.
Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
IAW The Fair Chance Act, Agency employees may not request criminal history information at the point of initial application, upon receipt of an application, or prior to, during or after a job interview. If an Optional Form (OF) 306, Declaration of Employment is submitted prior to the point of a conditional offer, questions related to background information section may not be asked.
Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required.
The employee have a secret clearance prior to appointment and be able to obtain and maintain a current Top Secret security clearance and qualify for access to SCI and various special access programs. Failure to obtain the TS/SCI will result in removal from employment.
This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The employee is subject to random drug testing. Pre-employment drug testing and participation in random drug testing is a condition of employment. Note: The caveat is that the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia cannot drug test until a drug free workplace policy has been established and approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Strong background in TDLs desired; preferably a qualified Link Unit Manager with 2+ years of experience or JICO.
Must attend required courses IAW TDL Planning and Operations publications.
Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
Recruitment and relocation incentives may be available for this position.
PCS expenses may be authorized.
Qualifications
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: The areas of considerations for this position, Title 32 Excepted Service (32 U.S. Code § 709), will be in the following manner and sequence,
The FIRST area of consideration for this position will be all excepted permanent and indefinite temporary technicians within the ILNG.
The SECOND area of consideration will be all current Federal Employees.
The THIRD area of consideration will be all Federal re-employment eligible.
The FOURTH area of consideration will be applicants willing to become T32 Dual Status Technicians and gain ILNG membership.
The FIFTH area of consideration will U.S. Citizens.
Military Grades: Rank Requirements E1-O6
GENERAL EXPERIENCE: MUST possess experience, education or training which provided a general knowledge of principles of organization, management, and administration; experience compiling reports, letters, memoranda, etc., and required person-to-person contacts to convey information; progressively responsible experience which demonstrates the ability to provide technical guidance and assistance in the type of work or in comparable work of the position to be filled; experience using computer and automation systems.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 Level. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:GS-12 Level MUST possess at least 1 year specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-11; experience, education or training in program or managerial experience in a type of work or a combination of functions directly related to the position to be filled or in comparable work or functions; experience developing and recommending policy; organizing and carrying out specific programs, evaluating and recommending changes in methods of operations; experience in supervisory, staff or technical work which included study, analysis or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of managerial or administrative policies, practices and procedures; experience preparing written communications and oral presentations.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: MUST possess secret clearance prior to appointment and be able to obtain and maintain a current Top Secret security clearance and qualify for access to SCI and various special access programs. Failure to obtain the TS/SCI will result in removal from employment.
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.
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.
Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to position descriptions, i.e. the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed below. Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position.
Education
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone. No substitution of education for experience is permitted for this occupational series and grade.
Additional information
If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)).
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified 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):
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
Your resume that clearly demonstrates experience that meets the requirements of this position. Your resume must contain identifiable information such as your name, address, and phone number. It should also show your work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
SF-50 - Must include if you are a current or previous federal employee.
Other supporting documents (as applicable):
Certifications
DD-214
SF-50 - Please include if you are a current or previous federal employee.
*NGIL Form 73 - Illinois National Guard Technician Program Supplement to Application for Dual Status (DS), to reflect military qualifications.
Complete and accurate data is essential to ensure fair evaluation, applicants with no military qualifications must submit form stating, "not applicable" and signature on page 2 of the NGIL Form 73.
Documents NOT accepted: photographs, copies of position descriptions, training certificates, performance ratings, awards, and letters of appreciation.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12791627
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
IL 126
126th Guard Way
Scott AFB, IL 62225-5503
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
Your resume that clearly demonstrates experience that meets the requirements of this position. Your resume must contain identifiable information such as your name, address, and phone number. It should also show your work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
SF-50 - Must include if you are a current or previous federal employee.
Other supporting documents (as applicable):
Certifications
DD-214
SF-50 - Please include if you are a current or previous federal employee.
*NGIL Form 73 - Illinois National Guard Technician Program Supplement to Application for Dual Status (DS), to reflect military qualifications.
Complete and accurate data is essential to ensure fair evaluation, applicants with no military qualifications must submit form stating, "not applicable" and signature on page 2 of the NGIL Form 73.
Documents NOT accepted: photographs, copies of position descriptions, training certificates, performance ratings, awards, and letters of appreciation.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12791627
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
IL 126
126th Guard Way
Scott AFB, IL 62225-5503
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
