Clarification from the agency

Status candidates (current or former Federal employees with career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service), CTAP/RPL/ICTAP, VEOA, 30%+ Disabled Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities, Military Spouses, Land Management.

As a NOC Desk Officer, GS-0301-9/11/12, your typical work assignments may include:

• Recognizing critical, time sensitive information, and take immediate action to alert appropriate NOC Watch personnel of breaking events impacting Homeland Security.
• Thinking quickly to convey critical information as a moderator and manage unclassified and classified voice and video conferences and update video and data display feeds to reflect the most current information.
• Quickly scanning, selecting, validating, de-conflict and collate disparate event and incident information to write a succinct executive-level summary, and using dashboards, common situational awareness tools, and geospatial software to create geospatial graphics and products.
• Collecting, cataloging, analyzing, and disseminating information to various data and information sharing tools, portals, and sites.
• Supporting the daily administrative tasks to maintain the primary and alternate sites to include all facility, technology, and personnel issues.

All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and may be subject to random testing.
• Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
• You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security clearance.
• Incumbent will work in a 24/7 Operations Center and be required to work rotating shifts, including rotating days of morning, afternoons, evenings, overnights, early mornings, and weekends and be able to work during holidays and inclement weather.

Qualifications

GS-9 Level: You may qualify at this grade level by meeting one (1) of the following below:

Specialized Experience
You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-7) or public or private sector equivalent. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

• Working in an operations center
• Providing support on a wide variety of mission areas and ensuring quality of operational reporting from various entities and organizations.
• Collecting and analyzing information, coordinating action, and reporting on day-to-day activities.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

-OR-

Substitution of Education for Experience
You may substitute education for experience at this grade level by possessing one of following:

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree
• 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree
• LL.B. or J.D., if related

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience
You may qualify at this grade level if you have a combination of education and experience (i.e. 6 months specialized experience and over 18 graduate level credits).

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify for the next grade level. You must submit a copy of your transcripts for review.

GS-11 Level: You may qualify at this grade level by meeting one (1) of the following below:

Specialized Experience
You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-9) or public or private sector equivalent. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

• Working in an operations center or other front-line government or equivalent position providing support on a wide variety of homeland security mission areas or other equivalent support (such as state or local law enforcement).
• Ensuring quality of operational reporting from various entities and organizations.
• Collecting and analyzing information, coordinating action, and reporting on day-to-day activities.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

-OR-

Substitution of Education for Experience
You may substitute education for experience at this grade level by possessing one of following:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
• 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree
• LL.M., if related

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience
You may qualify at this grade level if you have a combination of education and experience (i.e. 6 months specialized experience and over 36 graduate level credits).

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify for the next grade level. You must submit a copy of your transcripts for review.

Specialized Experience GS-12
You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service (GS-11) or public or private sector equivalent. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

• Researching, analyzing, and executing classified and unclassified queries within a wide variety of government databases for the purpose of obtaining background information related to suspicious activities or incidents
• Providing expertise on a wide variety of mission areas.
• Ensuring the quality of operational reporting to and from various organizational entities, programs, and state and local partners.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

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.

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.

Essential Personnel Position - This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR, Part 752, as applicable).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job: Writing

WRITING SAMPLE
For applicants to receive consideration by the hiring office, they may be required to submit a writing sample as part of the application process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing sample, their office will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire and application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12870955

Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration or your score may be lowered.

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

1. Your resume NOTE: Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. For what to include in the resume, click on the link: USAJOBS Help Center
2. Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12870955
3. Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
4. Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
5. Are you a veteran? You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.
6. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the DHS Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP), DHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit the following:
   • A copy of your agency notice,
   • A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
   • A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
7. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
   • Position title,
   • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee),
   • Agency,
   • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
8. Are you applying under special hiring authorities as a military spouse? Provide a copy of your:
   • Marriage certificate, and
   • Your spouse's PCS orders or a completed SF-15 with supporting documentation.
9. Are you applying under Schedule A hiring authority for persons with severe disabilities? Provide evidence of your intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefit. Information on documentation can be found here.
10. If you are referred, you may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

Next steps