MILITARY & FAMILY READINESS SPECIALIST Job in Berlin, VT

Vacancy No. VT-12744717-AR-25-23 Department Army National Guard Units
Salary $62,359.00 to $81,065.00 Grade 9 to 9
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/4/2025 Close Date 6/19/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Berlin, VT


Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION.

This National Guard position is for a Military & Family Readiness Specialist, Position Description Number T57014P1 and is part of the Military Personnel Office of the Vermont Army National Guard.

Duties

The purpose of the position is to provide support in the administration of Military & Family Readiness Program (SFRP) services for the Army National Guard within the State Family Program. This is achieved by performing assignments designed to provide familiarity with the Family Program, community services, effective relations with supporting social service and emergency organizations, recruit and train volunteers, promote resilience and financial literacy through targeted life skills training, and the development of human resources program referral networks.

1. Serve as fully independent advisor within geographical area of responsibility in accomplishing all objectives of the Soldier & Family Readiness Program (SFRP) for the Army National Guard to maximize retention and readiness. Provide input to develop, articulate, and implement the Family Readiness Program at the State level, inclusive of family readiness, family assistance, employment outreach, volunteer training and management and improvement of quality of life and well-being of Service members and families. Conduct needs assessments to determine requirements. Collect and organizes volunteer, family, and other related data, submit data and information through the State Family Program Director or Supervisory Family Support Services Specialist. Implement and maintain computer entry system to support reporting, for retrieval, and dissemination. Ensure accurate and timely input into the NGB-approved system of record for all applicable Service Members and Family case information,unit support, community outreach, training provision, volunteer management and other Family Program data. Coach, mentor, train junior staff. Conduct briefings at the local, unit and state levels to provide necessary information to leadership, commanders, Soldiers, Families, Soldier and Family Readiness Groups (SFRGs) and community partners and stimulate interest and support to build program and community capacity.

2. Manages and operates family assistance center and provide assistance to commands within geographical area of responsibility in support of the SFRP. Provides information resource referral and non-medical administrative case management across all essential services; including but not limited to, Crisis, Legal, Financial, TRICARE, ID Cards/DEERS, Community Information and Outreach Services, Employment/Financial Literacy, Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC) and Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Develop and maintain a directory of resources, agencies and organizations that are available to assist Service-members, Families and survivors. Shall coordinate assistance from military, government, and civilian organizations as needed to assist Service Members, Family Members, Retirees, and Civilian Government Employees needing military quality of life support, and ensure accurate and timely input into the NGB-approved system of record for all applicable Service Members and Family case information. Establish recurring outreach contact with each Service member's Designated Individual as directed by law, regulation or instruction from the Supervisory Family Support Services Specialist. Provides support during 24/7 EFAC operations, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration activities, Recruit Sustainment Program activities, drill and annual training periods as required.

3. Provide training and technical support to Commanders and Family Readiness Liaisons to support their Unit Family Readiness program and Soldier & Family Readiness Groups (SFRGs). Responsible to conduct informal and formal training and recruiting of volunteers. Support volunteers to work with the Family Readiness Groups (SFRGs), and to instruct and train units, soldiers, and their families. Provide training and technical assistance to unit commanders and Family Readiness liaisons to develop local unit SFRGs. Recruit and complete administrative actions for the appointment of statutory volunteers. Develop and conduct orientation and training programs for volunteers, including Army Family Team Building, Army Family Action Plan and Operation
Ready/Readiness Essentials for Army Leaders. Maintain a system of documenting volunteer services and hours, and a library of resource materials concerning volunteerism, and provide materials to volunteers as needed. Plans volunteer recognition activities at the unit and State levels and makes recommendations to the State Family Program Director or Supervisory Family Support Services Specialist higher headquarters for state and national level volunteer awards. Initiate Invitational Travel Orders (ITOs) for volunteers. Plans and conducts workshops and seminars, coordinating volunteer assistance as needed. Identifies statutory volunteers to serve as State Family Program volunteer council members, coordinates activities, and council communications.

**REFER TO PD FOR FULL LIST OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES**

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position.
  • Irregular and overtime hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies.
  • Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration.
  • The incumbent of this position description must have at a minimum, a completed National Agency Check (NAC) prior to position assignment.
  • The employee may be required to travel in military and/or commercial vehicles to perform temporary duty assignments.
  • The work may require the incumbent to drive a motor vehicle; if so, and an appropriate valid driver's license is mandatory.

Qualifications

OPEN AREAS OF CONSIDERATION: AREA 1, 2, 3, 4
Area I: Current On-board Title 5 or Title 32 Dual Status Technicians (Tenure: 1-Career, 2-Conditional, 3-Indefinite or 4-Term ) - Only those current Vermont National Guard employees who are in permanent, indefinite, or term technician status as result of being competitively hired by the Vermont National Guard working at the location specified in job announcement.
Area II: All current Federal Employees from any agency.
Area III: All current and former members of the VTNG.
Area IV: Area IV: United States citizens.
* Veterans' Preference Rules are mandated by law and some applicants may receive priority consideration before other applicants without veterans' preference.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:Experience, education or training which provided a general knowledge of principles of organization, management, and administration. 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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-09: 24 Months experience, with at least 1 year specialized experience, education or training equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants must have experience providing technical guidance and assistance in the type of work or in comparable work of the position to be filled. Applicants must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of administrative procedures and practices of management. Experience developing administrative procedures

Length of time is not of itself qualifying. Candidates' experience should be evaluated on the basis of duties performed rather than strictly on the rank of the individual; however, established compatibility criteria/assignments must be followed. The applicant's record of experience, training, and education must show possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to fully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics:

-Knowledge required in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to identify, consider, and resolve issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature.

-Knowledge of the principles, policies, program goals and methodology of the National Guard quality of life programs, including factors that affect work and leisure environments

-Ability to administer a program that provides information about individual and family social problems and referral to social service programs and agencies, information about National Guard assistance programs,

-Ability to gather and analyze information on problems and difficulties of obtaining assistance using the current system to provide programs that address such problems, and to recommend action to improve the system.

-Skill in interpreting written guidelines covering work methods and procedures such as performance and production standards.

OR

master's or equivalent graduate degree

or

2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree

or

LL.B. or J.D., if related

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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 Level. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

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 months/years.

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

Please be advised:
1. Specialized experience will be used to determine qualifications for the announced position.
2. An applicant's RESUME must provide, in detail, how they meet the specialized experience listed.
3. It must be documented with "from (mm/yy)" and "to (mm/yy)" dates and description of the specialized experience.
4. If education or a degree is required as part of the "Specialized Experience", you must include transcripts.

Do not copy the specialized experience qualifications word for word and place into your resume; you must describe your personal experience as it pertains to each statement.

Education

Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience is allowed.

1) Qualifying based on education alone: Education may be substituted for specialized experience with a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your official transcripts.)

PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Veterans Preference

  • Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and will possibly impact your placement on the certificate. For more veterans' information please click https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
  • - 10-Point Veterans' Preference: You must submit all supporting documentation as specified on the SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference". You can locate the SF 15 at https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf
  • - 5-Point Veterans' Preference: You MUST submit a copy of your DD-214 which includes Character of Service (usually Member-4 copy). If you are currently active duty, you may submit written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should also include when your terminal leave will begin, your rank and dates of active duty service.
  • If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.

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 (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

Benefits

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.

Review our 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.

Please be advised that the applicant rating will be evaluated on the following occupational competencies:

  • Decision Making
  • Customer Focus
  • Team Work
  • Problem Solving
  • Interpersonal Skills

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume: resume must show relevant experience, where you worked, job title, detailed duties and accomplishments written in your own words (Do not plagiarize), employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.), hours per week and salary. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your position title, pay plan, series and grade. Your detailed experience should be listed under each job title with starting and ending dates. Resume must show applicants name and contact information.

Other supporting documents (as applicable):

  • DD-214
  • Transcripts
  • Veterans Preference
  • Certifications
  • For current Federal employees: Latest SF 50, Personnel Action
  • NGB 22 (if you are a former member of the VTNG)
Helpful Hints for Applying:

- Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address and phone.
- Include details about the experience that relates to the position you are applying for.
- Be specific and always include Month and Year for the dates of your experience.
- Be sure to include your applicable military experience and explain the duties of the MOS/AFSC held.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position.

If you are using education to qualify for this position or education is a mandatory requirement to meet qualifications, You must submit copies of college transcripts that identify each course, the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade and grade-point received. Submitting a certificate or a degree will not suffice. You must submit transcripts when required. Photocopies are acceptable.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
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/.

Agency contact information

Nathan Brimmer
Address
Vermont Army National Guard Military Personnel Office
789 Vermont National Guard Road, GMA
Colchester, VT 05446
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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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