Clarification from the agency

Current DHS Headquarters (HQ) employees serving under a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service. You must submit an SF-50 that shows you currently work for DHS HQ.

As a Telecommunications Specialist, GS-0391-14, your typical work assignments may include:

• Planning, organizing and directing studies to develop long-range studies and forecasts and advising top level agency telecommunications and subject-matter managers on applying new developments and advances in telecommunications techniques in the specialty area.
• Evaluating and making recommendations concerning overall plans and proposals for major agency and interagency telecommunications programs.
• Providing telecommunications expertise in estimating the installation, modification, maintenance, operation, and support of both existing and new telecommunications systems.
• Providing telecommunications input into computing system operational design and proposal review.
• Evaluating, testing and eventually purchasing telecommunications and computer equipment to ensure present and future state-of-the-art support for the Secretary.

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 is subject to random testing.
• You 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/maintain a Top-Secret Security Clearance.
• May be required to reside at alternate sites for extended periods of time, potentially without communication with family and friends. The living conditions at the alternate sites may involve crowded living conditions and extremely long work hours.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in COMSEC, INFOSEC and OPSEC is required.
• Must have extensive knowledge in operating, testing, and troubleshooting secure communication devices including secure cell phones, STEs, voice over IP telephones, and DRSN Integrated Services Telephone devices.
• Must be skilled in the operation of a wide range of state-of-the-art video teleconferencing equipment used on the JWICS, SIPRNET, DSVG, and CMS networks.
• Work requires travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
• The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime, work a rotating shift schedule on short notice, and/or be on call or on standby for up to 24 hours per day.
• Incumbent must be able to lift baggage weighing up to 75 lbs and to do this repeatedly. This work is all season, all weather and may be outdoors in nature.
• While on travel status the work environment can be extreme; the workday can be 19 hours or more and, in the airborne environment, up to 18 hours on air-refueled aircraft without any extended rest breaks.

Qualifications

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement that must be met prior to meeting the specialized experience.

Education. Undergraduate and Graduate Education Degree: Major study -- electrical or electronic engineering, mathematics, physics, public utilities, statistics, computer science, telecommunications management, information systems management, business administration, industrial management, or other fields related to the position to be filled.

Other Education. Communications/electronics or automatic data processing training in technical institutes or business schools above the high school level or in Armed Forces schools that included advanced instruction in addition to basic courses, may be substituted for general experience on a month-for-month basis.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts for review.

OR

Experience. Specialized Experience: Experience in evaluating, analyzing, developing, managing, or improving communications systems, procedures, and requirements that demonstrated knowledge of current developments and trends in communications concepts and technology.

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

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in Federal Service or equivalent private sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

• Supporting the total communications needs of senior leadership, such as the Secretary of Homeland Security, in a variety of domestic and international environments.
• Planning, coordinating, and integrating complex IT and telecommunications solutions to meet operational requirements.
• Developing innovative approaches for new policies, procedures, and evolving mission needs; and analyzing and evaluating complex and uncertain IT and telecommunications issues to formulate recommendations and solutions that address long-term program performance.
• Implementing strategies to resolve conflicting requirements and technological challenges; maintaining effective working relationships with high-level officials across federal agencies, the White House, and foreign governments in unstructured and high-stakes environments; and communicating complex technical information and recommendations to senior leadership and diverse audiences.
• Providing technical guidance on IT and telecommunications systems, supporting the deployment and operation of advanced communications equipment, and ensuring the security and reliability of communications for senior leadership.

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

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

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. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

National Service 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.

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.

Pre-employment Medical Requirements: Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties. Also successfully pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes, but is not limited to vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future.

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: Planning and Evaluating, Technical Competence, Technology Application, and Telecommunications

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 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.

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/12841500

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).

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Department of Homeland Security, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, 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.

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

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/12841500
3. Are you current DHS Headquarters employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 showing your current grade and tenure; An SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: Performance award, Details, and Realignments are not acceptable SF-50s. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide an SF-50 or SF-50s which show the length of time in the current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated one year apart within the same grade/job) to support meeting time-in-grade requirements.
4. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the DHS Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)? 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.
5. 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.
6. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

Next steps